Committee Descriptions  

We are proud to offer and organize the following committees as part of the Buckingham Elementary tradition.  If you are interested in assisting with any of the following events, please get in touch with the contact person listed below.

ART Expo
In Spring, Celebrate Creativity! A collection of our students’ best artwork from the year will be displayed throughout the hallways. A design contest will kick start the fun. Setup/take down help is needed. Refreshments for opening night are greatly appreciated. Art work is on display for 2 weeks. 
Contact:  Betsy Benosky 215-794-0209 abenosky@comcast.net 

Back to School Teacher Luncheon
August. This luncheon is on the Wednesday or Thursday before school starts; scheduled through the office. We provide lunch for the teachers and staff (approx. 35 people) between their morning and afternoon meetings. The PTO has a budget and parent volunteers are asked to help with the food. The luncheon can be as elaborate or simple as you like, keeping in mind that the teacher’s only have 1 hour to eat. In the past a small gift, usually $5 or less, has been given to each teacher. This year we had a drawing and four teachers each received a $25 gift card to Staples.
Contact:  Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488 dvdbelle@comcast.net 

Blood Drive
A one day event organized with the American Red Cross Account Manager.  Form a committee of 5-6 parents to make calls to perspective donors and bake sweets. Organize the girl scouts as a "meet and greet" for donors.  Make up flyers to be distributed at the school. Post signs, provided by the Red Cross, around the school. The Red Cross will run the blood drive the day of the event if requested.
Contact:  Kristy Rickabaugh 215-794-8107 brianrickabaugh@comcast.net 

Box Tops for Education
There are three contests a year Fall/Winter/Spring. The students are asked to bring Box Tops into the class room. The Box Tops are collected, tallied, mailed and then prizes are awarded to the top classes. Announcements are sent to the office to remind students of the contest and notices are placed in the Banter to keep parents and students informed as to how the contest is progressing.
Contact:  Trish Zlotek  215-794-5448 p.zlotek@verizon.net 

Bus Driver Breakfast
At the end of the school year, we provide a casual breakfast for the bus drivers to say Thank You. The drivers come in about 9 am. The PTO has a small budget and parent volunteers are asked to provide breakfast items.
Contact:  Kathy Wyerman   215-794-9173 kathy@wyerman.com 

Clothing Sale
Distribute clothing order forms and liaison with vender to fill orders as they are placed.  Buckingham PTO no longer holds stock of clothing so all sales are by order form only.  Negotiate with vendors to obtain quality products at the lowest prices.
Contact:  Lori Tinari 215-794-2535 loritinari@yahoo.com  

Buckingham Elementary Newsletter (BEN)
A monthly newsletter with communications from the principal as well as information on current school and  PTO activities. Distributed by e-mail to the Buckingham Elementary families who choose to subscribe.
Contact:  Fiona Jackson 215-794-2161 fionajackson@comcast.net 

Directory
The Buckingham Elementary School Directory is published annually and contains contact information for staff, faculty and students. The directory is published each fall, with committee work beginning in May of the preceding year and extending through publication in October.
Contact:  Beth Matthews 215-794-9712 bethmatthews@comcast.net 

Fall Book Fair
Runs for one week during October (plus preparation 3-4 weeks before & clean-up after) The Committee needs to advertise, decorate (based on the current Scholastic theme), create enthusiasm with student contests or games, get 6th grade involved with 'One-for-Books' program, create 'Teacher Wish List', organize volunteers for set-up, cashier, clean-up, and work with Scholastic representative for fair delivery, pick-up and payment.
Contact: Darci Clausen 215-794-8268 clausen123@comcast.net                                                                                 Contact: Amy Greenlee 215-794-7677amyg1017@comcast.net        

Fall Fest
An all day event, held on a Saturday in October. There will be games, prizes, a silent auction, a theme basket raffle, Teacher/Staff raffle, scarecrow contest, pumpkin decorating, food, plant sale, used book sale, yard sale, and much, much more! It's our school's largest event and fun for the entire family. This event needs tons of support.                      Contact:  Louise Park Stejbach 215-794-1426 louisestejbach@comcast.net 

Family Fun Nights
We plan a few events through out the year (Bingo, Trenton Thunder). We need helpers to set up, help with food, help with prizes, and break down ,etc.-EASY
Contact:  Bonnie Blythe 215-794-0106 skywitch@comcast.net                                                                   Contact:  Katrina Brillman 215-794-5396 katbrill@yahoo.com

Field Day
Outside on a nice day in late Spring. There are 6 stations and each grade rotates through the stations. 12 volunteers are needed, so 2 adults at each station. 2 additional volunteers are needed for the water station. Mr. Durie, the gym teacher, explains the games and scoring to the volunteers and they in turn explain the game to the students and keep score. Starts at 9 am when Mr. Durie assigns games to volunteers and is over by lunch.
Contact:  Becky Durbin 215-794-5331 bmdurbin@comcast.net

Forty Assets
Promote and publicize the 40 Assets and the monthly Boomerang Award nominees and winners at Buckingham through the Banter In Brief and the 40 Assets bulletin board.  Integrate the 40 Assets into existing school activities and programs.  Represent CB Cares 40 Assets Programs at Back to School Night and other school events.
Contact:  Kris Moyer 794-1242 kmwerner1@comcast.net                                                                                   Contact:  Rachel Mauer 794-9767 Rachelmauer@aol.com

Gardens/Clean-up Day
This year round committee plans the extent of the gardens for the year. It involves coordinating and instructing different groups (the 6th grade Rock n' Roots, Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops) to come in to help plant and clean up the beds at Buckingham Elementary. The garden committee's big event is Clean-up Day in Spring which is a really big clean up of the school's grounds so they look spiffy for the visitors coming for Care By Celebrating Children. Sign up to help for an hour or more and you will be assigned a gardening task to keep you busy.
Contact:  Mrs. Viel mbviel@hotmail.com

Happenings
A program that provides a variety of after school classes that children can sign up for at Buckingham Elementary. The majority of the classes are run by parent volunteers. The classes run 6-8 weeks from end of Jan-March. Examples of classes are: computer web design, American Girl doll club, sewing, cooking, pillo-palo, computer games, and fun with science. Committee chairs are responsible for finding appropriate classes, soliciting parent volunteers to teach classes, advertising the program to the school community, class schedules, money collection, and overall management of the program. Volunteers are needed to teach classes and to be door monitors. Time commitment is 1 hour once a week for 8 weeks if you teach a class, 15 minutes once a week for 8 weeks if you are door monitor.
Contact:  Maria Ferrante  215-348-2723 theferrantes@comcast.net

Heart to Heart
Part of the commitment here at Buckingham Elementary to reach out to our families of students and faculty in a times of need. We are designed to help families, especially students during difficult times, whether it is a hospitalization, illness, or any time we as a school community feel it is important to reach out. We also do a bake sale in February during the three school lunches. We need help selling, baking and making cards. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact us, Mr. Funseth, Mr. Rosica, the school nurse, or the child’s teacher. All information is kept confidential—so please if you need us, reach out.
Contact:  Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488 dvdbelle@comcast.net                                                                                         Contact:  Donna Devaney 215-794-0518 donnadevaney@yahoo.com  

Homeroom Parent Coordinator
All year. Oversees and manages all Home Room Coordinators. This person is in direct communication with the HRC's who coordinate with the teachers to determine the needs for organizing classroom parties and special events. The Homeroom Parent Coordinator furnishes the HRC's with forms, expense lists, emergency contact lists, etc. and monthly reminders about classroom responsibilities. The Homeroom Parent Coordinator has an open communication with P.T.O. Board to forward important school events to school families.                                                                                       Contact:  Trina Hamalian 215-794-1133 trinaleah@comcast.net                                                                               Contact:  Renee Ziccardi 215-345-5862 rziccardi@cbsd.org

Honor Book Club
Runs throughout the school year. This committee works with the librarians to advertise and order books requested by the library and posted at the Donation Station. Books are purchased and dedicated with an in scripted book plate for special students, teachers and loved ones, and acknowledged monthly in the Buckingham Banter.
Contact:  Lori Soenksen 215-794-5653 aammom@aol.com 

Hospitality
Calling all Cookers, Bakers, Set-up, Clean up, and those who chose to buy bake goods! Throughout the school year we will be in need of different food items. If you would like to be on our list of those to be contacted for the various events, please contact the committee chair. From my kitchen to yours THANK YOU!!
Contact:  Denise Schmidt 215-794-9488 dvdbelle@comcast.net 

Ice Cream Social
The Ice Cream Social is held at school in late September for all new families. It's an informal opportunity to meet with other new families and teachers. Volunteers are needed to contact new families, send out notices about the ice cream social and help set up, serve and clean up.
Contact:  Ann Woods-Kettlelberger 215-794-2198 awkettelb@comcast.net                                                             Contact:  Virginia Howarth 215-794-4405 vhow91@verizon.net