You don't need unlimited availability, fancy skills, or to know someone on the board - we have countless ways to donate your time.

 

  • 13 Executive Board positions
  • 70+ Chair positions
  • Hundreds of helper shifts (some as short as 15 minutes!) Sign up below!

 

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  • Photo Day - 9/16 - During School Day - Low Commitment
    • Join us at picture day on Wednesday, September 16th to assist the photographers and prep the students for their photos. Grades Pre-K, K,1 and 2 are the 8:45 - 10:55 slot and Grades 3 and 4 are the 10:55 - 12:55 slot. We are taking sign-ups for alternates as well in case we end up needing additional help.  Volunteers should check in at the main entrance and then head to the bus loop where the photographers will be set up. Sign up HERE.
  • Author Visits - 9/25 and 9/30 - During School Day - Low Commitment
    • Come help with the first author visits of the year! We have two upcoming author visits whose signed books will need to be sorted and distributed to the students that purchased them. This will take approximately 60 minutes and will take place on both author visit dates: 9/25 and 9/30. Sign up for one or both! We will need 4 volunteers per date. There will be more opportunities to help with author visits later in the year as well. Sign up HERE.
  • Fall Family Gathering - 9/27 - Weekend Afternoon - Low Commitment
    • The Fall Family Gathering is one of South School’s favorite traditions, bringing our community together for an afternoon of fun with inflatables, games, a DJ, raffle prizes, and more! Volunteers will help with event setup and breakdown, getting everything ready before the fun begins and helping pack up once the event wraps. Sign up HERE.
  • Walk to School Day - 10/9 - Before School - Low Commitment
    • Walk to School Day is a fun event that encourages families to start the day with fresh air, exercise, and community spirit by walking to school together. Volunteers help with set up,make the morning safe and enjoyable by greeting students at the playground and overseeing refreshment tables. It’s a simple way to get involved and spread some positive energy! Sign up HERE.
  • World Inclusion Day - 10/9 - During School Day - Low Commitment
    • Join us as we celebrate World Inclusion Day and all of South's inclusion initiatives. Helpers will be needed to assist with bulletin board design and installation, goodie bag assembly and distribution, and staff breakfast setup. Sign up HERE.
  • Outdoor Movie Night - 10/16 - Evening - Low Commitment
    • Outdoor Movie Night is a fun community event where families gather under the stars to enjoy a movie together. Volunteers help make the evening run smoothly by setting up, handing out snacks, welcoming families, and keeping things tidy. It’s an easy, social way to be part of a special night! Sign up HERE.
  • Rally Rams Tailgate - 10/17 - Weekend Day - Low Commitment
    • The Rally Rams Tailgate is one of South School’s newest traditions, bringing our community together to show our school spirit and cheer on the NCHS Rams at their Homecoming game! This year for the first time every, all three New Canaan Elementary Schools will host a joint tailgate. Volunteers will help with event setup and check-in, making sure everything is ready for a fun and spirited afternoon. Sign up HERE.
  • Book Fair - 11/16-20 - During School - Low Commitment
    • We’d love your help making this year’s Fall Book Fair a success! There are a variety of shifts available—from setting up and organizing the book tables to helping students discover their next great read and assisting with tear-down. Sign up HERE.
  • South Skating at Waveny - 1/22 Weekend Evening and 1/24 Weekend Morning
    • The South School Skate at Waveny Park is a winter favorite where families come together to enjoy ice skating outdoors. Volunteers help set up, check in, handing out hot cocoa, and lending a hand around the rink as needed. It’s a simple way to join the fun and spread school spirit! Sign up HERE.
  • 3rd & 4th Grade Dance - 2/27 - Weekend Evening - Low Commitment
    • The 3rd & 4th Grade Dance is a special winter celebration just for our 3rd and 4th graders, filled with music, dancing, and glowing fun! Volunteers help make the night magical by decorating, checking students in, serving snacks, and keeping an eye on the dance floor. It’s a wonderful way to support the kids while they enjoy a night to remember! Sign up HERE.
  • 3rd & 4th Grade Variety Show - 3/10 and 3/12 - After School - Medium Commitment
    • The Variety Show is a chance for South School 3rd and 4th graders to shine on stage and share their unique talents—singing, dancing, comedy, and more! Volunteers help bring the show to life by assisting with rehearsals, managing backstage, greeting families, and keeping everything running smoothly on performance day. It’s a fun and rewarding way to support our young performers! Sign up HERE.
  • Autism Acceptance Day - 4/2 - Schedule TBD - Low Commitment
    • Join us as we celebrate Autism Acceptance Day and all of South's inclusion initiatives. Helpers will be needed to assist with bulletin board design and installation, as well as goodie bag assembly and distribution. Sign up HERE.
  • Science Fair - 4/8 - After School/Evening - Low Commitment
    • Please sign-up if you have interest in helping with the Science Fair!  We will have a variety of volunteer opportunities, both in advance of the Science Fair and on the night of.  Some volunteer needs may be for designing the Science Fair bulletin board, printing materials, helping with sign-up, or helping with breakdown. We will reach out in early 2027 with specific volunteer opportunities. Sign up HERE.
  • Art Show - 5/6 - During School - Low Commitment
    • Please volunteer to help hang and take down art for the South School Art Show. Dates for hanging art are TBD but will be sometime at the end of April/beginning of May for hang up and the last week of May for take down. No artistic experience necessary - just the use of a staple gun! Sign up HERE.
  • Walk to School Day - 5/7 - Before School - Low Commitment
    • Walk to School Day is a fun event that encourages families to start the day with fresh air, exercise, and community spirit by walking to school together. Volunteers help with set up,make the morning safe and enjoyable by greeting students at the playground and overseeing refreshment tables. It’s a simple way to get involved and spread some positive energy! Sign up HERE.
  • Adult Social - 5/21 - Weekend Evening - Medium Commitment
    • The South School Adult Social is a fun, casual evening for parents and caregivers to connect, relax, and enjoy time together outside of the busy school day. Volunteers help by setting up, welcoming guests, assisting with food and drinks, and keeping things running smoothly. It’s an easy way to be part of a great night that builds community spirit! Sign up HERE.
  • School Supply Packs - Late August - Summer Weekday Morning - Low Commitment
    • Sign up to help organize school supply packs before school starts. The packs come pre-assembled; we'll just need 1-2 hours of help unpacking the shipping cartons and then organizing the packs by classroom. Sign up to come in Spring.
  • Book Room - Ongoing - During School - Medium Commitment
    • Volunteer in the South School Book Room! It’s an amazing resource for both our teachers and our children, and with your help we can keep it in great condition. The Book Room time commitment is 2–3 shifts throughout the year that are approximately 30 minutes long. We help reshelve book bags in the correct order according to the label on the box, keep the books organized and tidy, and relabel book bags as needed. In June, we do inventory of the books and ask volunteers to sign up for one inventory shift that is one hour long, if possible. Sign up HERE.
  • South School Garden - Ongoing - During/After School - Medium Commitment

    • Sign up to help run the South School Garden! We oversee the full cycle of the garden from season to season. This is a larger seasonal commitment and best for parents with a few years left at South who think they can commit to helping manage the garden for more than one year. As any gardener knows, the knowledge and experience over multiple seasons is invaluable!
      If you think you might be interested, please provide your contact information and the Garden Team will reach out to share more and answer any questions you have. Extensive garden experience NOT a must! Sign up HERE.

      (To volunteer for Fall Harvest and Spring Planting days, please sign up with your Room Parent during open house.) 

  • Green Team - Ongoing - During/After School - Low Commitment
    • Volunteer to help South School's Green Team!  Join the committee that drives South’s environmental initiatives, including organizing recycling/upcycling drives, organizing Earth Week activities, and working with school administration to manage the cafeteria composting program. Sign up HERE.
  • Memory Book - Ongoing - During/After School - Medium Commitment
    •  Volunteer to help create the South School Memory Book!  Join the committee to help manage the design and publication of our school-wide yearbook, including capturing and assembling candid photos, creating the yearbook template and distributing books at the end of the year.  Volunteers will occasionally be needed during school hours to take photos during recess, assemblies and other special events. Sign up HERE.
  • Library Volunteers - Bi-Weekly - During School - Some Low & Some High Commitment
    • Thanks for your interest in volunteering in the South School Library! This role involves helping to check in/check out books and/or reshelving books in order to assist our wonderful librarian, Mrs. Bartlett, in keeping the library running smoothly.
      Volunteering takes place either on a biweekly basis or once in a while as a backup volunteer. The biweekly shift is one morning every other week (8:45-9:45am). Sign up HERE.
  • Spirit Wear - Throughout the Year - Low Commitment
    • Sign up to help the Spirit Wear Chairs sell South merch at various school events throughout the year. Help setup the table, interact with customers, process transactions in Square, and pack up. Sign up HERE.