There are many ways to get involved and we encourage and welcome volunteer support of any kind! There are currently a few specific areas of need if you’re able to share your time in one of these roles:

  • This is a light and meaningful role! Be the main contact for your child’s class by forwarding pre-drafted PTA emails (about once a month) and sharing a class contact list. A simple way to stay connected and make a big impact!

    Optional: help with a class gift or teacher appreciation.

  • This is a leadership position that works alongside and supports the President. This person will take over the President role once the current two year term is up.

  • This person works alongside the current treasurer to learn the role and responsibilities.

If you’re interested in supporting one of these needs, please fill out the form below for more details. Thank you!

Portland Public Schools Volunteer Requirements

To ensure a safe environment for our students, PPS requires volunteers to follow the steps below. A person is considered a volunteer if they have the potential for unsupervised contact with PPS students during school hours, including chaperones for field trips. 

  1. Review the Volunteer Code of Conduct

  2. Review the Mandatory Volunteer Training

  3. Complete the volunteer application and Background Check (In the application, you will need to sign that you have reviewed the above materials and agree to adhere to all of the requirements. 

If you are a current PPS volunteer, your status is active for 3 years. PPS will alert you when it’s time to renew.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

The below are areas or activities that we need ongoing support to maintain. Please read through the different roles and descriptions and reach out if you’re able to volunteer.

  • A parent volunteer coordinates the events that are particular to the 5th grade year, including the End of the Year Party, 5th grade field trip, and 5th grade Promotion.

  • A parent volunteer group focused on cultural events of our Spanish Immersion community.

  • This is a volunteer-run basketball program available in the winter to all Atkinson students.

  • Become a ride chaperone for the Atkinson bike bus! We'll be riding together every Wednesday (there's an east and west route), rain or shine! This is a pretty low-effort commitment, especially if you are already biking to school.

  • The book fair is held in November just before and during parent/teacher conference time. Led by our librarian, volunteers set up, take down and work at the book fair. The hours vary depending on the fair hours and the conference schedule.

  • Some of the goals of this committee consists of ongoing earthquake preparedness education, gathering and maintenance of on-site supplies to support all students for 24 hours and partial students for 3 days, non-structural mitigation, and having reunification drills to educate staff and parents on protocol after an earthquake. This committee meets monthly discuss actions for ongoing preparedness of the school in the event of an earthquake.

  • Held in the spring, field day is organized by our PE teacher and involves 10-12 stations of activities and games that are set up outside the school building. Each parent volunteer is responsible for at least one station.

  • Help us raise funds for the PTA to support Atkinson students and programs. Whether your interest is in direct appeal or grant writing, we need your support!

  • The social is an early evening event held at the beginning of the school year to welcome new and returning families. Volunteers are recruited in the spring to plan this event for the following year. Tasks include organization of information booths, treats, and fun!

  • Volunteers assist in processing books, including putting durable covers on them, typing spine labels, affixing stamps and other labels to books, and re-shelving.

  • The PTA helps run a clothes closet. It provides donated clothes, new socks and underwear to families. Volunteers can help with coordinating a donation collection event and help/assist the school with distribution, storage, or organizing needs. In the past clothes have also been given to Marshall High School Clothing Closet.

  • Run for Atkinson is an annual jog-a-thon held at Franklin High School’s track. The students collect pledges, run laps, earn points, and raise funds to ensure the arts are present in our school. Volunteers organize students, mark off cards indicating laps run, pass out popsicles, and cheer on the runners.

  • The Atkinson Running Club is held most Fridays during the K-2 and 3-5 recess periods. Come out to the playground to help record students’ laps and cheer them on as they work towards their running goals for the school year.

  • Separated by K-2 and 3-5, volunteers coordinate this event and help students during the rehearsals and show.

  • Parent volunteers are needed to help provide food for a luncheon. Past activities for the week have also included daily treats, musical performances, and appreciation gifts and messages.

  • This school year we are piloting nights out for Atkinson parents to get together and raise money for the school.  We need volunteer support to make these fun nights happen!

  • Led by a coordinator, volunteers organize set up (8:10-8:25am), welcome students (2-3 people to sign in kids and hand out stickers), provide raffle ticket help (8:25-8:50am), and assist with take down (8:50-9:00am).