Community

PTTA and Family Involvement

Welcome! The CDS Parent Teacher Trustee Association (“PTTA”) includes each of us.  All CDS parents, as well as staff, teachers, administrators, and members of the Board of Trustees, are automatically members of the PTTA.

The PTTA aspires to welcome, educate, communicate, and appreciate. We work to welcome all families to the school and events, educate parents about school-wide issues and learning opportunities, facilitate communication throughout the community, and coordinate appreciation events for the faculty and staff. The Class Liaisons, Buddy Family Program, Welcome Potluck, Family Farming Program, Faculty Appreciation Dinner and Luncheon, as well as Spring Festival and Country Fair, are just a few activities organized or supported by the PTTA. We do all of this in the hope of creating a greater sense of community within the school. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to participate!
All families are encouraged to get involved and explore more about how you can support your PTTA and should feel free to reach out with any ideas, questions or thoughts to ptta@cds-sf.org.
The vitality of our community depends on the active participation of everyone in it.

Family Involvement

We view school as a collaborative experience for and by many, rather than simply an exercise in individual achievement. It is our heartfelt belief that the vitality of our community depends on the active participation of everyone in it. Families are involved as partners in their child's/children's education and contribute their time and talents in a number of different ways, depending upon their interests, abilities and availability. Some parents read to the children in the classroom and drive on field trips, some help coordinate annual school events such as the Country Fair, while others assist with fundraising and marketing.

Getting involved at CDS is a great way to develop deeper relationships with other parents and families, with your child’s teachers, and with the CDS staff. All parents are encouraged, but not required, to participate in the CDS community in some capacity during the school year.

Leading Admission Tours, becoming a Family Farmer, joining a committee, or volunteering in the classrooms or on campus are all great ways to help out.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at ptta@cds-sf.org or fill out this form, and we will help find a way for you to get involved that matches your interests and availability.

Dues & Fundraising

The PTTA is funded by an annual fee ($50) assessed to each family as PTTA Membership. This fee supports events such as the Welcome Potluck and the faculty appreciation events.

Shopping is another way you can support the PTTA. Do you know that Amazon.com, Rainbow Grocery, Mabel’s Labels, and Sports Basement each have special accounts with the CDS PTTA where a portion of your purchases supports the PTTA? Check out our fundraising page or your Family Handbook to find out more and sign up! These funds help the PTTA to hold community events such as Wine & Cheese and Family Bingo.

Getting Involved in PTTA

The leadership of the PTTA consists of a diverse group of parents, trustees and administrators (some wearing multiple hats). The PTTA leadership meets regularly to plan for educational, fundraising and community-building events. In addition, meetings provide the PTTA leadership an opportunity to disseminate and discuss current school issues. PTTA Meetings are open to anyone in the community and dates and times are posted on the CDS web calendar and announced at Friday assemblies.

The leadership roles below represent a number of positions that may be utilized by the PTTA to accomplish its work. Any member of the PTTA may hold these leadership positions. The PTTA leadership includes:

Co-Chairs (Christina Jinich and Chris Bunga): Organize and lead the PTTA; chair meetings; serve on the CDS Board of Trustees; maintain communication with the Head of School and administration regarding PTTA activities and contributions; work with PTTA officers and members to identify individuals and groups to carry out activities and plans; oversee strategic direction of the PTTA. Work with the Director of Finance and Operations to insure that the PTTA budget and finances are well managed and that record keeping is up to date. (Typically a two-year role). The PTTA co-chairs are ex-officio, voting members of the CDS Board of Trustees.

Fundraising Coordinator/Partnerships: Works with the CDS Director of Finance and Operations to ensure that the PTTA budget and finances are well managed and that record keeping is up to date; identifies and suggests unique revenue-sharing agreements.

Classroom Liaison Coordinator (Kate Gray): Coordinates and assists the classroom liaisons; works with PTTA officers and members to identify individuals and groups to carry out activities and plans, including the annual Welcome Potluck.

Farm Family Coordinators (Cyndi Wong & Devon West): Train new family farmers and handles scheduling and coordination of the family farmers; maintain a calendar of assignments and send out reminders; serve as main contacts for family farmers on weekends and holidays.

Parent Education Coordinator (Alice Light): Member of SPEAK and other relevant education policy and advocacy groups; prepares shortlist of recommended parent education opportunities for the CDS community; partners with other Bay Area schools to organize and promote parent education events.

Members of the Administration who are ex-officio members of the PTTA leadership:

• Head of School (Shelly Luke Wille) 
• Assistant Head of School (Karen Hayes) 
• Lower School Director (Marie Keating) 
• Middle School Director (Chris Wachsmith) 
• Early Childhood Program Director (Antonette Greene) 
• Director of Marketing & Communications (Bradley Bethel)
• Director of Enrollment Management (Kristina Berman) 
• Director of Advancement (Jeanna Yoo)
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