Home & School > Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For more information, or if you have a question about Oak Ridge Home and School Association, please e-mail us at ORHomeSchool@soudertonsd.org.

Below are frequently asked questions with accompanying answers:

1. Who belongs to the Home & School Association? (often referred to as Home & School)?
   All parents or guardians of children attending Oak Ridge Elementary School and all teachers/staff members of Oak Ridge Elementary School are members of Home & School.

2. What is the purpose of Home & School Association?
   The Home & School Association's objectives are:

   • To promote the welfare of the children in home, school, and community;
   • To improve the quality of the elementary school experience for the children;
   • To inform the parents of educational methods and standards and to support the educational programs in the school;
   • To promote cooperation and fellowship among parents and staff in order to develop such united efforts as will secure for every child the highest advantages in academic, emotional, and social education.

3. When does the Home & School meet?
   Home & School generally meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30PM in the school library. A full list of dates is available at the Meetings link.

4. What activities does the Home & School organize and/or fund? (Note: Some activities are self-funded).
   A complete list and description is available at the Committees link. The Home & School currently organizes and/or funds the following activities/events:

   • Field Trips: H&S helps subsidize the field trips to lower the cost to each child.
   • Assemblies: H&S pays for some of the assemblies the children enjoy each year.
   • Homeroom Parents: Volunteers plan socials in the classrooms 3 times per year. A volunteer from each class will make phone calls to parents whenever there is an emergency school closing, such as due to snow.
   • Lip Sync: This is one of our most popular nights. The kids get to perform songs for the entire school community, while never having to utter a word!
   • After School REC: H&S organizes and sponsors after school activities that are age appropriate. They can include sports, crafts, sign language, hand bells, science and games.
   • Fun Run/Carnival: This event takes place in the spring and is a wonderful event for the whole family. Activities include a one mile fun run/walk and carnival. It has become our major fundraising event.
   • D.A.R.E. and Just Say No: Local police teach a sixteen week drug and alcohol awareness program to our fourth graders. We also sponsor the teacher-led Just Say No Club, after school for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Students are encouraged to choose healthy activities over drugs and alcohol.
   • Oak Ridge Cares: This committee was formed in order to better help those in need within the Oak Ridge community. A group of volunteers, organize and oversee the distribution of donated and purchased items for charity as well as raising the community's awareness of those needs.
   • Spirit Wear Sale: During the fall and spring, we sell t-shirts, hoodies, sweats, lunch packs, and more with our Oak Ridge logo. These items are offered for sale, at cost, to all families.
   • Team Oak Ridge: New students and their families are made to feel welcomed and involved in our school. One of the ways we accomplish this is with the "buddy" program. Fourth grade students are paired with the Kindergarten students for various activities over the course of the school year.
   • Holiday Shoppe: Each child is invited to visit the Holiday Shoppe. This is run for one week during December. It is an opportunity for the children to shop with a volunteer, during school, for inexpensive gifts for their family members.
   • Yearbook: This committee gathers photos of all school events throughout the year along with the school photo taken. This is a great keepsake for your child to remember their elementary school years.
   • School Directory: Every family will receive a directory to keep in touch with classmates and find H&S information.
   • Family Night: our families are invited to a night of entertainment in the fall and sometimes late winter. A variety of activities ranging from a storyteller, snow tubing, to a night of bingo have been enjoyed.
   • Gardens: Parents and children are asked to volunteer in the spring to care for the Butterfly and Memorial Gardens. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach the children the importance of caring for the Earth and our school community.
   • Hobby Night: During a Friday evening in winter, students are encouraged to bring in their collections or hobbies and share their interests with other students and parents.
   • Ice Cream Sundae Bar: This special dessert is held 4 times per year after lunch. Volunteers serve ice cream with all the toppings. The sundae is free with a lunch purchase or $.75 if purchased separately.
   • Hospitality: This committee provides refreshments for most of the activities held throughout the year. At the end of the school, a luncheon is held for the teachers.
   • Newsletter: Each month we publish a Newsletter entitled, "The Nutshell". This publication contains an up-to-date calendar and a listing of all the activities going on at Oak Ridge. An online copy is available at the Resources link.

5. Where do the Home and School funds come from?
   The Home & School runs the following fundraisers to raise money:

   • Campbell Soup Labels for Education: Points that we redeem are used for fun playground supplies. (Ongoing)
   • Fun Run/Walk & Carnival: Our major fundraising event provides need money to purchase gym equipment, picnic tables, bookcases and computer software. (Spring)
   • General Mills Box Tops: By clipping the box top coupons, we are able to earn $.10 per box top. Each year we have averaged 16,000 box tops. That means $1600 for our school! (Ongoing)
   • Market Day: Each month restaurant-quality food products will be available for purchase.
   • Holiday Craft Fair: Vendors set up their goods at tables throughout the school for students and parents to browse and shop. (Fall)

6. Why do we need additional funds even though I already pay school taxes?
   Home & School sponsors activities and funds programs which supplement those provided by the School District. These activities enrich the experience of all the students at Oak Ridge.