Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved, and whatever your interest, skill or availability there is a place for you. Here is an overview of all the Programs and Events you can enjoy or volunteer to be a part of.
After School Enrichment
For years we have offered wonderful after school classes for the kids and they have been popular for a reason! Kids can be in a rock band, learn to cook exotic Asian food, become a lego designer, explore their inner detective skills , or they can even come and get their homework done with some beloved Beach teachers. These are just a small sample of the fabulous classes offered immediately after school here at Beach. A chance to spark your kids interest or find out what they love to do and with no need for a carpool! And did we mention, this is a huge fundraiser for Beach!
Beach Dad’s Club
The Beach Dads Club (BDC) exists to foster community and social connections among the Dads while accomplishing special projects that have been identified as important to the Beach School community, whether physical or cultural. The club raises money to fund these projects by sponsoring creative and fun community events.
The Beach Dads Club (also known as the “Baja Padres”) recognizes that families come in many forms, and we enthusiastically welcome all of them into our community. The “Beach Dads” label can fit any parent or guardian regardless of gender or sexual orientation, so join us and become a padre!
Beach Revue
Beach Revue has been a cherished tradition since 1968. Students and parents have fun working together to put on this annual spring musical with singing, dancing, and skits. Typically, 85% of students participate in this memory-making event.
Students from each class perform using sets, costumes and choreography while accompanied by our own house band. Parent volunteers help direct, choreograph, create costumes, play in the band, work backstage, and provide support in many other ways.
Book Fair
Looking For A Good Book? The Scholastic Book Fair in the Fall is an annual fundraising event that encourages our kids to read, helps fill the shelves of our kids’ classrooms and the Beach library, and is open to the community. Over 5 days in the school auditorium, children and adults can browse the latest books from Scholastic, find recommendations from our librarian and teachers, and donate their gently used books to the East Bay Books for Children program.
Garden
Beach Edible Garden started as a parent-led project with the support of our faculty and administration. After the school seismic retrofitting, the edible garden was moved to our present location and rebuilt by the school district and the parent community.
Our working garden is an extension of the classroom, with countless opportunities for teaching and learning experiences.
All Beach students work in the garden once a month with parent volunteers. The garden lessons have been developed to reinforce and show practical applications of the school science curriculum. They have been adapted to each grade level and encompass a wide range of topics: plant anatomy and physiology, its life cycle and reproduction; weather, soils, ecosystems and nutrition.
Harvest Festival
Hosted by the City of Piedmont and the Elementary School Parent Clubs, the Harvest Festival includes a vegetable growing and cooking contest, the amazingly creative scarecrow-alley, a carnival with fun activities for the young and young at heart, an event long jazz festival, art show, special interactive exhibits from community groups like the police and fire department and other community providers, lunch vendors, all with a small-town feel.
The 22nd Annual Piedmont Harvest Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19 but that shouldn’t stop us from celebrating our fruits and vegetables! The Harvest Festival has gone virtual for 2020 with an Edible Photo Contest and Youth Coloring, Drawing and Collage Contest. We will be back in 2021 for the 23rd Annual Festival! Grow on Piedmont!
→ More About the Harvest Festival & Volunteering
→ Harvest Festival Website
Hot Lunch
Choicelunch is our school lunch vendor. They provide delicious and nutritious lunches with a wide range of options. Ordering is extremely easy, with last minute options available as late as 6:00am day-of and smartphone mobile apps for both iPhone and Android phones. Furthermore, they have a dedicated support team to address all your concerns, as well as a full-time registered dietician to review any allergy concerns.
→ Learn More About Volunteering for Hot Lunch
→ Order Choice Lunch
Library
Parent volunteers are an essential element of our school library program. These volunteers help to staff the library during class visits, research projects, recesses and lunch. Contact the Beach Parent Library Liaison.
Beach School is proud of the McHugh Library Program, staffed 50 % time by a professional teacher-librarian and trained library paraprofessional on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The teacher-librarian meets with all classes weekly to promote a love of books and an integrated program relating library standards and curricular standards. Research projects begin in Kindergarten, with flexible scheduling available to classroom teachers to spend additional hours in the library for research using both print, electronic and online resources.
→ More About Beach Library & Volunteering
→ Beach Library Website
Room Parents
What does a Room Parent do in 2020?
The role is very different from past years, but we’re relying on you to help build community in our classrooms and help support the parents and teachers by acting as liaison between them, BPO, and Beach. Please submit by Monday evening so that we can send the newsletter out by Tuesday.
→ More About Room Parent Duties & Volunteering
News to share?
Use this form to submit your news to your Room Parent.
Scrip
So, what is Scrip…? Scrip cards are prepaid gift cards that you can use at your favorite stores. At no extra cost to you, a percentage of the card’s value is donated to the PEF by the vendor. Each year, the Scrip program raises more than $100,000 for Piedmont schools. Many local businesses have Scrip cards available, including Market Hall, Whole Foods, Piedmont Grocery, and many more.
Site Council
The Site Council is comprised of teachers, parents and principals. The Site Council meets six times during the school year to monitor and review the established school site plan. The plan ensures that the school is engaged in identifying and implementing curriculum and instructional practices that result in both strengthening the core academic program and ensuring that students have access to and success in that program. It is a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas with our school’s staff and gain insight into current teaching philosophies.
Teacher Appreciation
This group coordinates potluck luncheons for the teachers. It is one of the most well-loved activities by both teachers and volunteers.
Each of the (almost) monthly lunches are hosted by a different grade level or group with the Padres grilling for the year-end event. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our hardworking staff and for the families of each grade to show off their best dishes.
During Covid the group has been periodically collecting funds and cards to show our collective thanks, but we are looking forward to returning to lunches soon!
Spring Fling
Spring Fling is an annual celebration by all three Piedmont elementary schools that brings together the entire community to support our children’s education. Funds raised by the Spring Fling auction go directly to the schools, supporting science, music, art, math, computer, library activities and other vital programs that would otherwise be cut.
Each year, the Spring Fling celebration culminates in a fabulous gala open to all families in the community and that includes a silent auction, dinner, dancing, and an exciting live auction event.
→ More about Spring Fling & Volunteering
→ Spring Fling Website
Website
Interested in helping keep our Beach community informed with Beach School happenings? Do you know a thing or two about websites or have interest in learning?
The Beach Website Committee is looking for those special someones who want to shape the school’s centerpieces of online communication: The Beach Parents Organization website.
Welcoming Committee
The Welcoming Committee does exactly that! We welcome parents and students to Beach.
Every year, we host a back-to-school coffee reception for parents on the first day of school. It’s a great chance to reconnect and see all of the amazing projects and activities that will be happening on and off campus. Please be sure to join us on the first day of school for this fun event.
Our goal is to engage our Beach community to help make everyone feel included at our vibrant, friendly school.