Home & School Association (HSA) Meetings:  The H.S.A. is Eaton's parent/teacher organization.  No dues are charged, and all parents are automatically members.  Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:00-8:00pm in the library.  All parents are encouraged to attend these meetings, which offer the opportunity for parents to discuss common issues or concerns, share ideas, and plan activities with other parents, teachers, and school administrators.  (Child care for children ages 4 and older is available through JEAP for a fee, which includes pizza.  You must sign up for childcare in advance.)

Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT) Meetings & Community Meetings:  The LSRT is an elected group of parents, teachers and school administrators that work on the academic plan and DCPS budget for Eaton.  Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the library.  Any LSRT meeting is open to any parents who wish to attend, and attendance by all parents is encouraged at the community meetings, held 3-4 times a year to discuss specific issues.  (Volunteer)

Newsletter:  The newsletter, which comes out every two weeks, is the most important communication tool at Eaton.  It is produced entirely by parent volunteers and paid for by the HSA.  Please check you child's backpack regularly for the newsletter and other informational flyers.  (Volunteer)

Parent-Teacher Conferences:  Three times during the year, parents are invited to speak with teachers about student progress, achievements and challenges.  Children have no school on these dates.  Dates will be announced and parents sign up for appointments.  Parents can bring or request interpreters for these meetings.  Additionally, parents can arrange other times to talk with their child's teacher.

Class projects and performances:  All year, teachers work with children on educational projects.  Some of these result in performances of poetry, writing, artistic projects, drama, music, dance, and more.  Your child's teacher and your room parents will communicate with you about upcoming events.  Please check your child's backpack for information.

Room Parents:  Each class identifies a couple of parents who agree to notify their fellow parents about important activities and sign up volunteers to help with projects and fundraisers.  Communications are by phone and/or e-mail.  Because of the many special events held at Eaton, Room Parents are active all year.  Effective parent communications are a key part of Eaton's success.  Please sign up!  (Volunteer)

Landscaping, Snow Removal, Playground Maintenance:  Parents are encouraged to assist with these activities as needed.  (Volunteer)

Translation Services:  Throughout the year, bilingual parents translate the newsletter and informational flyers, so that the entire Eaton community can be involved in events and activities.  (Volunteer)

Northwest Current Newspaper School Dispatches:  Students write very short articles describing special activities in their classrooms or at the school.  Every class is featured a couple of times a year.  A volunteer(s) make sure that Eaton articles are submitted weekly according to the Current's deadlines.  (Volunteer)

Apparel Sales:  Eaton t-shirts, sweatshirts, aprons and other items are sold on a regular basis.  These items are a great way to show Eaton pride and they make great gifts!  (Volunteer)

Educational Needs Fund:  Every family at Eaton is asked to contribute $450 per child to help the HSA fund many important teaching positions at Eaton.  Positions funded this year will include music teachers for all grades, a reading specialist to support reading excellence, an art teacher for grades 1-6, co-teachers for grades 1-6 to allow small group instruction, and more!  Every family is asked to make at least some contribution to the Educational Needs Fund, and multiple payment options are available.  This is the HSA's major means of funding co-teachers and other instructional support positions.  Funding goal is $75,000 for this year.

Student Council and Class/Grade-Specific Fundraisers:  From time to time, students, teachers and parents organize bake sales and other one-time fundraisers that help fund class trips, the 6th grade yearbook, the Musical, or other school needs.  Watch for signs at school with info on these activities.

Office Depot: donates 5% of qualifying in-store, telephone, and on-line purchases throughout the year.  Designate our school code #70020125 when you check out.

New School Year Barbecue:  An informal, free barbecue for the entire Eaton community.  It's a chance for returning and new Eaton families to catch up and get acquainted with one another.  Wednesday, September 7th, 2005, 6:00-7:30 p.m. on the playground. (Volunteer)

Back to School Night:  This is the evening when parents get the chance to meet with their children's teachers in the classroom, get to know the parents of other children in the class, hear a report from the principal, and learn about the HSA, LSRT and JEAP Afterschool Programs.  All parents should attend if at all possible.  Thursday, September 22nd, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

ESL Breakfast Reception:  Parents of children in the English language learners at Eaton are invited to meet the ESL teachers, Dr. McElroy and representatives of the HSA.

ESL Pre-LAS/LAS Testing:  Children identified as English language learners take the Language Assessment Scales test (LAS) as a baseline measure against which progress is measured during the year.  All testing is accomplished over a ten-day period.

Sally Foster Giftwrap Sale:  Our first fundraiser of the year.  Parents are asked to sell giftwrap and chocolates from the Sally Foster catalogue.  You will get a kit and a few weeks to make your sales.  Friends, family and neighbors can also purchase Sally Foster gifts online through Dec. 31, and mark their purchases for the benefit of John Eaton.  These high-quality products raise roughly $10,000 each year for the school.  (Volunteer)

Block Party:  A fun festival that takes place on the school playground usually mid- month.  Families enjoy rides, games, arts & crafts, and food.  Parents organize the Party, donate or help cook the food, and run the activities.  A fee is charged for food and activities and the event usually raises about $5,000.  Saturday, October 15th, 2005.  (Volunteer)

Halloween Parade and Haunted House:  Children in Pre-K and Kindergarten dress up in their costumes and parade on the playground to an audience of parents and other students.  The Eaton HSA also runs a neighborhood costume parade, decorates and runs a Haunted House, and gives costume awards and goodies at Macomb Park Recreation Center on Halloween evening.  JEAP seeks parent volunteers to help take after-school children to this event.  (Volunteer)

Help the Homeless Program:  The Fannie Mae Foundation funds this community service project.  The program raises money for organizations serving the homeless in DC.  Our children learn about homelessness in the classroom and take part in a mini-walk on the school grounds.  Parents must turn in registration forms for their children's participation to be counted by Fannie Mae.  Children who turn in forms also get a free t-shirt.

School Photos:  Children have their individual pictures taken by a professional photographer.  Parents may purchase sets of prints.  A percentage of the total school's purchase is donated back to the HSA and used for instructional support.  (Volunteer)

Annual Fund Campaign:  Eaton HSA reaches out to neighbors and friends of the school to ask them to make tax-deductible donations for instructional support.  If you know someone who might be willing to contribute to keeping Eaton a great school and should receive a mailing (grandparents? alumni families?), please provide their name & address to the HSA.  (Volunteer)

Fall Open House:  Families interested in sending their children to Eaton in future years meet with the principal and HSA Board to learn about the school, then tour the building and visit classes with parent guides.

Gifts for Children In Need:  Led by the HSA and Student Council, Eaton families donate new toys for children at a nearby DC public school.  (Volunteer)

Tree and Wreath Sale:  One of our biggest fundraisers!  We sell Christmas trees, wreaths, and pine garland during three weekends in December.  Parents staff the sale entirely and each classroom is given a two-hour shift to cover.  Approximately $17,500 is raised at this event, with funds going toward instructional support.  (Volunteer)

Reading is FUNdamental:  This program encourages literacy by giving children books that they can keep.  Age-appropriate books are selected by Eaton's librarian and distributed to children with the assistance of parent volunteers.  All books are free to the children thanks to a combination of federal and local funds.  (Volunteer)

Ski Trip for Grades 4-6:  This is a one-day trip to nearby Ski Liberty organized by Ms. Magruder.  Children sign up in early January.  A fee of about $50 includes transportation, skis, lunch, and lessons.  (Volunteer)

Footloose Dance:  Like the Block Party, this is a "fun-raiser."  A DJ is hired, and Eaton families kick off their shoes and "rock around the clock" (or until about 9pm) in the multi-purpose room.  Though all Eaton children are welcome, all children must be accompanied by an adult.  Reduced-price tickets and pizza can be purchased in advance.  Tickets and pizza also sold at the dance, but not at the discount rate.  (Volunteer)

Spring Open House:  Families interested in sending their children to Eaton in future years meet with the principal and HSA volunteers to learn about the school, then tour the building and visit classes with parent guides.  (Volunteer)

International Week:  We celebrate our diversity and learn about other cultures with a week of special assemblies, student performances, and classroom activities.  (Volunteer)

International Dinner: A celebration of Eaton's diversity.  This is a huge potluck with parents donating a dish from their own or another culture.  Not a fundraiser - just fun!  (Volunteer)

Book Fair:  On a designated weekend, Politics & Prose bookstore at 5015 Connecticut Avenue donates 20% of sales to Eaton.  Parents buy new books for their own use and as donations to the school or classroom.  In order for the purchase to benefit our school, patrons must present an Eaton book fair coupon to the cashier.  Approximately $2,000 is raised at this event, with funds going toward instructional support.  (Volunteer)

Science Expo:  Each class assembles a presentation of its work on a science project.  These are displayed in the auditorium throughout one school day.  Parents are welcome to help the class organize its presentation and are invited to come view the exhibits.  (Volunteer)

Writer's Workshop Showcase:  This event is a wonderful reason to visit the Eaton library!  Participating classes in grades 1-6 display student-written books and other media they have created as part of Writer's Workshop.

ESL Annual Testing:  Eaton's English language learners participate in annual English proficiency testing to see how much they have improved over the year.

Standardized testing:  Children in grades designated by D.C. Public Schools (grades 3 and 5 in the 2004-2005 school year) devote several days to taking standardized tests in math and reading/language arts.

Auction:  This is the biggest single fundraising event of the year yielding $50,000-$75,000 for the instructional support program and other special needs at the school (such as computers, library resources, sound system, and other items.)  Tickets are sold in advance and at the door.  Attendees bid on items in silent and live auctions.  A large team of parents works for several months to solicit donations and organize this event.  (Volunteer)

Raffle:  Families are asked to sell raffle tickets to friends, family members and neighbors who can win a cash prize.  The prize drawing is held at the Auction.

Musical:  Children in grades 4-6 perform the junior version of an internationally recognized musical.  In past years we have done Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, Aladdin and others.  Auditions are held in late-December and rehearsals run from January through May as an after-school activity.  This activity usually involves over 60 children.  Tickets are sold in advance for a nominal fee.  Multiple weekend performances and one in-school (free) performance are held.  (Volunteer)

School Photos:  Children have individual and class pictures taken by a professional photographer.  Parents may purchase sets of prints and/or single copies of the class picture.  A percentage of the total purchase is donated back to the HSA and used for instructional support.  (Volunteer)

Reading is FUNdamental: This program encourages literacy by giving children books that they can keep.  Age-appropriate books are selected by Eaton's librarian and distributed to children with the assistance of parent volunteers.  All books are free to the children thanks to a combination of federal and local funds.  (Volunteer)

Art Show:  A marvelous display of students' artwork.  A parent reception opens the exhibit.  (Volunteer)

School Safety Patrol Parade:  Members of the Eaton Safety Patrol participate in a citywide parade down Constitution Avenue.  See Ms. Magruder for details.  (Volunteer)

Eaton Spirit Day:  Students and volunteers are recognized for a wide variety of achievements.  Parents are invited to attend this fun, "spirited" event!  (Volunteer)

Teacher Appreciation Day:  Teachers and staff are treated to a luncheon of parent-donated dishes and HSA barbecue.  (Volunteer)

HSA and LSRT Elections:  Annual elections of HSA board members and LSRT parent representatives for the next school year.

Kindergarten Promotion:  In a brief morning assembly, children perform songs and are recognized for their completion of the year.  Kindergarten parents are invited.

6th Grade Promotion:  Teachers and students in the 6th grade class participate in a morning assembly that culminates and celebrates their years at Eaton.  Each family receives a few free tickets for the ceremony.  A reception and distribution of yearbooks follows the ceremony.  5th grade parents organize the reception for the 6th grade class.  (Volunteer)