Clare Corcoran Scholarship
The committee oversees the distribution of a scholarship named in honor of Dr. Claire Corcoran, the first principal of Vinson-Owen. In recognition of their high scholastic achievement upon graduation from Winchester High School, the fund provides annual awards to the top Winchester High School seniors who attended Vinson-Owen.
Chairpersons
Joslyn Collier, Chair
Newsletter
The committee is tasked with compiling, editing, and issuing the weekly newsletter. They collaborate closely with the Co-Presidents to ensure that the news items are timely, relevant, and valuable, providing important information about the Vinson-Owen and Winchester communities.
Chairpersons
Gregory Bilton, Co-Editor
Kelly Robinson, Co-Editor
Tamara Toub, Co-Editor
Tom Stanton, Co-Editor
School Directory
The committee is responsible for creating both online and print versions of a secure, password-protected School Directory via Membership Toolkit. Their responsibilities include advancing students to the next grade each year, removing graduated students, entering new students, assigning class rosters, and updating faculty information.
Chairpersons
Lauren Schiller, Co-Chair
Shannon Monaghan, Co-Chair
Website
The committee is responsible for gathering, organizing and publishing content submitted by VOPA committees and subcommittees. Responsibilities also include updating the calendar, design and maintenance of the website, providing important information about the Vinson-Owen and Winchester communities.
Chairpersons
Tom Stanton, Co-Chair
Billboard
The committee is responsible for updating the billboard at the entrance of the school driveway with upcoming events and important information for the Vinson-Owen and Winchester communities.
Chairpersons
Katie Markos, Chair
Enrichment Programs and Field Trips
The committee works with teachers to provide educational and engaging activities and presentations to the students throughout the year. Enrichment programs and field trips are designed to educate our children beyond the classroom by promoting creativity, curiosity, and a love for lifelong learning. These programs and trips complement each grade level's curriculum, enhancing the overall educational experience.
Chairpersons
Tania Connor, 2nd Grade
Elizabeth DeHaven, 3rd Grade
Kerry Cucinatti, 3rd Grade
Shailaja Sony, 3rd Grade
Erica Walsh, 4th Grade
Lindsey Mark, 4th Grade
Alexis D'Arcy, 5th Grade
Tina Coll, 5th Grade
Melissa Vallarelli, Chair
Amy Hogan, Kindergarten
Jessica Hootnick, Kindergarten
Lindsey Mark, Kindergarten
Jessica Falzone, 1st Grade
Susan McGirr, 1st Grade
Tina Coll, 1st Grade
Jessica Hootnick, 2nd Grade
Nishima Maini, 2nd Grade
Hospitality
The committee coordinates a Welcome Back Luncheon for faculty and staff, Welcome Back Coffee for caregivers, Curriculum Night, Teacher Appreciation Week, and the welcoming of families who attend the Veterans Day Assembly. The Hospitality Committee is one of the most fun and rewarding committees to be part of at Vinson-Owen and is always looking for volunteers to contribute food and time. Please join us for one or all events!
Chairpersons
Charity Piao, Co-Chair
Kiki Mills Johnston, Co-Chair
Kim Mace, Co-Chair
Lauren Schiller, Co-Chair
Library
As a library volunteer, you will have the opportunity to help during your student’s classroom library visits. The frequency can be tailored to your availability. This is a great way to get an inside look into one of the fun activities in their schedule!
The committee coordinates volunteers and assists the Librarian with tasks such as organizing and re-shelving of books and inventory.
Chairpersons
Sara Cheng, Co-Chair
Used Book Fair
The fair coincides with the three days of Parent/Teacher Conferences in the fall, allowing students to shop before school and caregivers to shop while at school for conferences. The fair enables students to practice independence, apply their math skills, learn about reuse, and most importantly, foster their love for reading.
Donations for the Used Book Fair are collected at V-O in the weeks leading up to the event.
The committee drives collection of donated books, generates advertising media, organizes volunteers who are hands-on during the event and provides overall support of operational logistics.
Chairpersons
Cindy Lu, Co-Chair
Kristie Prieur, Co-Chair
Molly Rappoli, Co-Chair
Tania Connor, Co-Chair
Valerie Doble, Co-Chair
Scholastic Book Fair
The Book Fair is an annual event that raises money for the Vinson-Owen Library. The fair takes place in early Spring during school conferences. It serves as the major source of funding for the Library.
The committee coordinates with the current vendor, Scholastic, assists the librarian with book choices, helps market the event, coordinates teacher wish-lists, establishes the volunteer schedule, manages setup and teardown, and facilitates on-site coordination and troubleshooting for the event.
Chairpersons
Kelly Frattaroli, Co-Chair
Spencer Hoover, Co-Chair
Lindsey Miller, Committee Member
Liz Robinson, Committee Member
Room Parents
Aiming to cultivate a unified classroom community, Room Parents play a crucial role in supporting teachers and bridging communication with caregivers. In most classrooms, a team of two or three parents shares the responsibilities, dividing tasks according to their personal interests.
Parental Involvement: Ensure every classroom has parent volunteer(s) and provide ongoing support and guidance to all volunteers.
Author and coordinate announcements for the VOPA Newsletter.
Actively seek out caregivers from specific classrooms until all volunteer positions are secured.
Maintain an updated list of room parent contacts.
Distribute volunteer guidelines and a sample budget to all participants.
Send timely event reminders throughout the academic year.
Chairpersons
Erika Hoffman, Co-Chair
Lisa Olaharski, Co-Chair
Kristan Boutwell, Co-Chair
Resources
Science Park, Butterfly Garden and Playground
The V-O Science Park is a 7.5-acre wooded area adjacent to the school along Johnson Road and Amberwood Drive. It features unique elements such as protected wetlands, known as the Green Turtle Trail, and upper dry lands, known as the Red Bird Trail. We are very grateful to the Boy and Girl Scouts, caregivers, and community volunteers for helping to maintain the boardwalks and trails for the school and community.
Established in 2013 through a Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence (WFEE) Grant, the V-O Butterfly Garden was created by caregivers and Scouts. This garden encourages children, teachers, and families to learn about the butterflies and bees that help pollinate the V-O Science Park.
The committee coordinates programming and maintenance for both the Science Park and the Butterfly Garden. They recruit volunteers, teachers, and community leaders to provide nature-based enrichment to all grade levels.
Chairpersons
Debbie Fiumara, Co-Chair
Nancy Hunter, Co-Chair
Phil Mark, Co-Chair
Lauren Jonak, Committee Member
Ways and Means
The Ways and Means Committee helps meet annual fundraising goals for VOPA through various initiatives, including an Annual Fund Campaign, seasonal fundraising programs, a Box Tops Program, and School Kidz. These efforts fund programs such as in-school presentations, art and music enrichment, teacher materials and supplies, Jr. AuthorFest, V-O on Skates, playground equipment, and more.
Annual Fund
The committee organizes fundraising through the Annual Fund Campaign.
Chairpersons
Katie O’Connor, Chair
Fundraising
The committee organizes fundraising through seasonal programs, such as:
Amazon.com: Access Amazon.com via our store and shop as normal and V-O will earn between 4% to 10%. No special codes required!
Note: You have to click our link before you put anything in your cart.
Employer Match: Did you know that many employer matching programs will double or triple your donation to the VOPA? Speak with your human resources department to see if your company offers a Matching Gifts program. Make you contribution go farther and do more to enrich the educational programs at Vinson-Owen!
Minted: Vinson-Owen families receive 20% off - excluding fine art prints - and Vinson-Owen School will receive 15% back with each order! Use our promo code - FUNDRAISEVINSONOWEN at checkout!
Shutterfly: Order photos and gifts through our Shutterfly Store and V-O will earn a 13% commission on all purchases. No special codes required!
Square 1 Art: Purchase current and previous year’s art all year long! A great option for holiday gifts!
Wilson Farm Day: Once a year, V-O families can help our fundraising efforts by shopping at Wilson Farm in Lexington. 20% of purchases made on our dedicated day will be given back to our school to help fund various programs that benefit V-O students. Information about this fundraiser will be available via the V-O Newsletter in the Winter.
Chairpersons
Box Tops
The committee organizes fundraising through the Box Top Store and the Box Tops App. Up to 8% of purchases are automatically donated back to V-O!
For over 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn cash for schools - with products they already buy! Today, you can find hundreds of participating products throughout the store. When ordering online at over 70 retail stores, stop first at the Box Tops Marketplace and then head off to your store website of choice from there. Up to 8% of your purchases will be automatically donated back to V-O with no additional cost to you. Alternatively, scan your receipt with the Box Tops App and you’ll earn for your school with every Box Tops product you buy.
Chairpersons
Liz Kelley, Chair
School Kidz
The committee organizes fundraising through SchoolKidz, where customized lists of school supplies are sourced and assembled into branded kit boxes and then delivered to the students, thereby simplifying the back to school supply process for parents while fundraising for Vinson-Owen!
Chairpersons
Amy Hogan, Chair
5th Grade
Opportunities for leadership, community service and social engagement abound. These special activities and programs aimed exclusively for the 5th grade students make this end-of-the-elementary-school year memorable.
5th Grade Events
These events are a wonderful way to cap off their elementary school years and are really enjoyed by the students:
A day at the Project Adventure Facility
A pool party at the Lexington Pool
A moving up ceremony
A yearbook and a video of K-5 memories for each student
An opportunity to participate in Mentor Night
A class t-shirt for each student that can be worn on field trips, Project Adventure Day and Field Day
Leadership Opportunities
In addition to these end-of-year celebrations, the 5th grade class is a leader in the school and takes on more responsibility, including:
Being a buddy to the Kindergarten classes
Assist Kindergarten teachers in classroom
Plan, organize and speak at all-school assemblies
Participate in the Student Council
Community Service
The 5th graders also participate in multiple community service projects throughout the year, including:
Running some of the games at the annual Fall Festival
Delivering the Thanksgiving baskets to the Woburn Food Pantry
Making Valentine Cards for a local nursing home
Donating and packaging snacks for the Arlington EATS Program
Spring clean-up at Wright-Locke Farm
Donating “Spare Change” to a voted on class charity
PMC for Kids
Fundraising
The 5th Grade Committee is a self-funded program within VOPA. For these wonderful events to happen, the students must raise the funds through various events, including an Election Day Bake Sale, selling cash calendars and parking spot raffles.
Uploading Yearbook Photos
Contact the Yearbook Team!
Chairpersons
Erica Nahass, Co-Chair
Kara Skilton, Co-Chair
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