The PTA is comprises 38 distinct programs/committees, each of which serves a unique purpose in improving the student experience at JYJ. More information about each program and the responsibilities of its chairperson/committee members can be found below.
Audit
Reviews the treasurer’s monthly financial statements, submits an annual report to the NC PTA reflecting review of the financial statements, and engages in ad-hoc discussion with the treasurer and JYJ PTA leadership on general financial topics.
Advocacy
The PTA was created primarily as an advocacy organization, and all WCPSS PTAs are required to have an advocacy committee. The committee interfaces with advocacy organizations representing IDEA, the NC Justice Center, and Public Schools First NC, and encourages parental involvement in advocacy issues via voting registration drives, candidate forums, and organization with local voting organizations.
Academic Boosters
Recognizes students who have shown great effort/improvement over the course of the quarter. The school counselor sends an email to all of the teachers with a Google form, asking them to nominate the student from their class that they feel deserves the recognition. The committee prepares certificates and gets donations (like a Chick-fil-a gift card) as awards for these students. The students are also featured on the JYJ News.
Affiliate Programs
Coordinates three programs that financially benefit the PTA: 1) Box Tops for Education; 2) Harris Teeter’s Together in Education; and 3) Publix’s affiliate program. Work focuses on encouraging families to register for these programs.
Backpack Buddies
Provides children experiencing food insecurity nutritious, kid-friendly, pre-packed meals for the weekend/long holidays/breaks. Maintains good communication with school personnel (principal and school counselor) and supplier of meals for the duration of the school year. Learn more at: https://www.foodshuttle.org/backpackbuddies.
Birthday Recognition
Sends all students home with a goody bag (usually including a pencil, 2 pieces of candy, a sticker and a note) during the month of their birthday. The administration provides a list of students with name, grade, teacher and birthdate information.
Book Room/Media Center
The Book Room is housed in the back of the classroom immediately to the left from the main entrance of Joyner. It is a resource for teachers to check out sets of leveled books for groups of students. The committee organizes the books and reshelves the sets when teachers return them. There is a website maintained through a membership to Libib Library: https://www.libib.com/u/jyjoyner. The committee also communicates with teachers and the testing coordinator to purchase new additions for the book room. The Media Center Chair works with the school media coordinator to organize volunteers to come into the media center during the school day throughout the school year to reshelve books and also coordinates with the library media coordinator to purchase additional books and items to be used in the media center throughout the year by students.
Book Fair
Facilitates at least one book fair including scheduling with vendor(s) and coordinating communications and volunteers. The committee sets up signage and banners to promote the book fair. They help classrooms to promote the change drive to make sure each child gets a book – even if they cannot afford one. They help with set-up and tear-down of the book fair in the Media Center. Committee members can work during the book fair to help students and parents find and buy books before, during, and after school.
Chess Club
Coordinates with the independent Triangle Chess organization and PTA/school leadership to decide on sessions that will be offered (Fall, Winter, and/or Spring), and selecting a day of the week. Secures use of classrooms for club use at specific days/times with administration. Markets the club and facilitates the registration process, including scholarship offering provided by Triangle Chess. Communicates the club roster to affected home room teachers at the start of each session and on club days. Assists coaches with setup and dismissal as needed. Optional: coordination among parents for chess tournaments (outside of school).
Communications
Helps keep JYJ families up to date on the latest happenings, key events and opportunities to get involved and support our school. This position is responsible for the weekly NewsFlash, an online newsletter sent through Givebacks.
Cultural/Performing Arts
Brings outside artists for enrichment programming for students and staff at Joyner, usually through a partnership with the United Arts Council (UAC) of Wake County. The UAC trains volunteers, provides showcases and resource information for available artists, and helps with every step along the way. The Cultural Arts Chair(s) attends this training and artist showcase, works with Joyner administration to select artists and dates and to complete contracts, and works with artists and relevant staff to prepare the artists and school for the event and ensure they happen successfully for all parties. Usually, we have two school-wide performances, one week-long writer’s residence, and one artist’s workshop during the year. The Committee is also responsible for recruiting/coordinating parent volunteers to assist with set-up and tear-down and costume organization for fall and spring Spanish dancing performances.
Equity and Diversity
The Equity and Diversity Committee was formed in order to help foster a school environment at JYJ where all students, staff and families can thrive in all aspects of their identities. This includes taking efforts to help every student have access to the resources and educational rigor they need during their education despite race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, family background or family income. There is an opportunity to help define the committee’s mission/activities as it becomes more active in 2023-2024.
Girls on the Run
Volunteer coaches inspire girls in grades 3-5 to build confidence and other life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity in an after-school program. Committee chairs are responsible for recruiting and coordinating with volunteer coaches, coordinating registration and program details, and maintaining communication between coaches, students, and the GOTR triangle liaisons. More information is available at: www.gotrtriangle.org
Givebacks Directory
Sets up classroom hubs in Givebacks for the respective school year; sets up PTA committee hubs upon request from committee chairs.
Grants and Awards
Works with school administration to identify appropriate grants and awards to pursue for recognition of school accomplishments or to pursue school goals.
Grounds and Garden Club
The Grounds and Garden Club Committee hosts several Saturday morning grounds clean-up days throughout the year to tackle various projects and keep Joyner looking fresh and clean! In addition to the physical work on clean-up days, the committee makes plans for various gardens and is tasked with maintaining the Rainwater Garden.
IDEAS Fund (formerly Mini Grants)
The IDEAS (IB/Magnet, Differentiated Instruction, Equity, Academic Goals, and Student Support) Fund (formerly Mini Grants) is responsible for funds for classroom materials which are sponsored by the PTA. Through this program, the PTA funds individual or collaborative grants to help teachers and staff implement substantive ideas and programs designed to enhance students’ learning experiences that might otherwise not be possible. The IDEAS Fund committee works together during the application process to determine what will be awarded as well as to distribute the materials once they arrive.
JAG Publishing
Focuses primarily on providing students with IB-themed writing and illustration prompts each month to feature on our Writer’s Wall of Fame in the atrium of the school outside the library. We are considering additional new ideas to implement in the upcoming school year and encourage increased participation among students.
Jag Wear
Designs apparel for the current year and distributes a paper order form (created by our printing company). Creates and launches an online order form. After the order deadline, the committee compiles orders and gives them to our printing company. The committee sorts orders and distributes them to the teachers. A spring order is sometimes offered as well.
Joyner Jamboree
Organizes a family-friendly evening that includes food, games, and events in October under the overhang behind the school. Works with administration to secure use of school. Contracts with vendors for bounce house, climbing game, etc. Secures food trucks. Coordinates volunteers to run the event. Haunted Hallway co-chair organizes volunteers and plans for the hallway.
JYJ 5K
Plans and hosts the JYJ 5K in/around March. This is a fun event, and also the PTA’s second largest fundraiser. Oversees not only race logistics but also the healthy choice marathon (teaching kids to make healthy choices), run club (helping kids to practice for the 5K), obtaining sponsors for the race, and the classroom challenge. Co-chair positions include overall coordination/sponsorships, run club/healthy choices marathon, classroom challenge, and race logistics/race site.
K-2 Liaison
Focuses on kindergarten events (Popsicles on the Playground and Kindergarten Meet the Teacher), but is available to consider first- and second-grade requests. Must coordinate with administration to communicate with incoming families and promote events.
Membership and No Fuss Fundraiser
Promotes the PTA and encourages people to join. (Individuals must join the PTA annually.) Families are encouraged to make a donation to the PTA at the time of joining in lieu of other fundraisers like selling wrapping paper, etc. This is the PTA’s largest fundraiser.
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem solvers. Teams of students select a problem, create a solution, then present their solution in a competition against other teams in the same problem and division. The committee recruits coaches, coordinates assignment of students to teams, and may assist with coaching. Learn more at: http://www.ncom.org.
Original Works
Works with a third-party company to turn art made in Mr. Fotta’s class into various products that can be purchased by families. Artwork and order forms are sent home in March. The artwork and orders will be due back 1-2 weeks later. Upon receipt, products will need to be organized, put in bags, and sent home with students. See examples of products at: https://www.originalworks.com/.
Pre-Order School Supplies
Works with a third-party school supply vendor directly to set-up, coordinate, and deliver school supplies for student/families who opt-in.
School Pictures
Serve in a supporting capacity on Picture Day to help keep the students and day moving on schedule and in good order. Connects and checks in with front office to see if they need any assistance in scheduling picture day.
Science Go Round
Plans and executes a full-day, school-wide event focusing on small-group STEM presentations by community adults. Typically scheduled in the fall. Involves recruiting paid and unpaid presenters, organizing parent volunteers/staff/classroom setups, providing a catered lunch, and following up with handwritten thank-you notes to presenters from the children.
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions consisting of a series of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based events that are well balanced between the various disciplines of biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology. The committee helps to recruit participants and volunteers, and members typically volunteer with students. Learn more at: https://ncscienceolympiad.ncsu.edu/.
Social Media
Promotes the PTA and the school and provides information about PTA and school events via Instagram and Twitter. The committee has to be plugged in to what’s happening by working closely with the PTA Executive Board and Committee Chairs. The committee must also be creative in order to come up with posts when not much is happening!
Spelling Bee
Coordinates distribution of spelling lists to all third, fourth, and fifth graders and provides guidance to teachers on holding classroom bees. Schedules school bee, including securing judges, pronunciator, obtaining permission slips from participants, providing word lists, etc., making sure the gym is set up with chairs, microphone, trophies, certificates, food, etc. Secures room for participants and go over rules prior to bee.
Spirit Nights
Partners with local restaurants and businesses to raise funds for the PTA while building the community and providing social time for kids outside of school. The Spirit Nights committee is responsible for the following: reaching out to businesses to secure their partnerships, coordinating the events, solidifying the profit sharing amount, communicating with the Joyner Foundation and administration to ensure there are no conflicts on the dates, writing up the NewsFlash description and submitting the writeup to multiple parties for advertisement.
Study Buddies
Coordinates with teachers and recruits volunteers to work with and tutor students who have been identified as needing help one-on-one and on a regular basis.
Summer Reading Program
The Summer Reading Program is a voluntary program students participate in over the summer. The committee is responsible for printing and distributing reading logs to students in early June. The reading logs are then collected in early September. An ice cream party is provided in September for all of the students who met the reading log goal of 1,000 reading minutes over the summer. The chairperson is responsible for setting the date of the ice cream party and arranging the ice cream truck.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation
Plans once-a-month staff appreciation events (usually breakfast or lunch), a Christmas lunch, and an end-of-year lunch. Recognizes bus drivers and Instructional Assistants. Comes up with themes for periodic staff appreciation and communicates this to the entire school so that kids can show appreciation for their teacher and assigned staff. Maintains the room parent hub on Givebacks and sends out any messages to them that need to be shared with all parents.
Technology/Website
Maintains https://joynerpta.com/ and consults on other technology issues that arise, such as photo storage and PTA committee/program email accounts.
3rd-5th Grade Liaison
Organizes events and other celebratory tasks for the 5th Grade Moving Up week. These events include breakfast the morning of the moving up ceremony, organizing the luncheon following the 5th Grade moving up ceremony, and painting of the spirit rock. Assists with ordering 5th grade t-shirts. Assists with any 3rd-4th grade requests. Co-chair positions ideally held by a current 4th grade parent and a current 5th grade parent.
Yearbook
Gathers pictures throughout the year, loads portrait pictures into the system, runs the yearbook cover contest, and builds the yearbook. The yearbook is built in a user-friendly website. Manages yearbook sales. Committee will consider new vendors for 2023-2024.