Hour of Power

This is YOUR school – help make it what you want it to be! That’s the outlook of parents at Brown, and it’s our energy that makes Brown tick.

There are plenty of opportunities for parents to get involved. All it takes is an idea or inspiration – perhaps followed up with a conversation with a friend. Whether you join a committee, form a new one, or tackle an idea on your own, you have the power to bring ideas to life. 

What are some examples of things parents can do to contribute? Below is a sampling of activities our families have spearheaded and coordinated in the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years.

To give your Hour of Power, fill out our volunteer opportunities checklist: brown.dpsk12.org/volunteeropps

**Recent Accomplishments by Brown Parents**

Classroom Involvement

• Volunteering in the classroom to assist in reading and math
• Participating in class field trips

Community Events and Activities

• Organizing and implementing the Pow Wow
• Community Garden planning, fundraising, planting, maintenance, and groundbreaking event with chili cook-off
• Supporting teachers in the Winter Arts Extravaganza and Spring Arts Spectacular
• Coordinating the Spring ECE/Kinder welcome event
• Creating booth presence at Highland Square Street Fair

Wellness

• Exploring healthy lunch options
• Planning and hosting healthy lunches on track and field day
• Working with DPS to optimize the school nutrition and meal experience
  
• Partnering with LiveWell Colorado to provide nutrition education classes for families
  
• Introducing new healthy foods to ECE and Kinder students

Marketing & Communications

• Developing back to school information packet and first day of school welcome activities
• Creating and mailing full-color school brochure
• Writing marketing materials to promote school curriculum, philosophy and programs
• Creating Around Brown PTO newsletter
• Writing and managing Brown official Web site content
• Creating BrownElementaryFamilies Yahoo group to help keep parents connected
• Promoting school activities and events with flyers, yard signs, local newspaper articles
• Planning and coordinating 2 IB Nights for prospective parents
• Promoting IB and creating IB videotape of kid testimonials
• Reaching out to community members to publicize Brown and garner bigger volunteer base
• Translating various documents into Spanish

Programming and Special Offerings

• Initiating Kaleidoscope before- and after-school childcare program
• Working with teachers to offer a smorgasbord of free after-school programs
  
• Initiating Destination ImagiNation for building creativity, problem solving and teamwork
• Offering free yoga classes to students
• Offering free English lessons for Spanish-speaking parents

Helping Hands

• Organizing weekly Helping Hands food table with donations from local grocers
• Organizing coat drive in the fall

Fundraising

• Organizing and implementing Fall Festival
  
• Organizing and implementing International Spring Festival
• Organizing Santa Store for kids to purchase affordable gifts for family members
• Organizing Santa photos
• Grant writing to expand school’s recycling program
• Painting and selling greeting cards to support school’s beautification projects
• Hosting various fundraising events throughout the year
• Securing donations from businesses for various events
• Writing and securing small grants to finance school projects