2025-2026

HCE PTA COMMITTEES

Committee Committee Chair(s) Advocacy/Legislative  Beth Jackson Beginning Bonanza Taryn Mitchan, Sterling Myers Corporate Underwriting  Callie Johnson , Sarah Punches Cougar Raffle  Jessica Lammlein Cougar Fall Festival  Elaine Menger, Jennifer Jones, Jane Thomas, Tine Purvis, Zaena Manoukan, Brandy Gonzales and Heather Nelson Daddy Daughter Dance  Emilie Cooksey, Valerie Dietrich D.A.R.E  Ashley LeGrange Directory Katie Wall Field Day  Ashley Jones, Yvonne Tortoriello Fifth Grade Celebration Jennay Swinbank, Lauren Rutherford, Sarah Frazier, Shannon Werme, Lauren Page,  Katie Wall, Jennifer Rayburn Fifth Grade Track Meet  Summer Craig, Ashley Weathers  Financial Reconciliation Committee  Jessica Williams, Dianne English, Aneela Gilani Fourth Grade Makers Faire  Aneela Gilani Front Office Volunteers Ashley Jones Gallery Night/Student Displays  Mary Hammon Quinn Grandparents' and Special Friends Day  Shannon Werme Grant Committee at Large Members (voted position) Selection in process GT Parent Advisory Committee Rep Carol Wood Hands on Science (HOS)  Jamie Ratusznik , Jeff Ratusznik Healthy Lifestyles / Fun Run (NEW) Yvonne Tortoriello, Marissa Krasnov Holiday Hayride Callie Johnson, Alyssa Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Gardner  Hospitality/Teacher Appreciation Lunches Brooke Wommack, Yvonne Tortoriello, Taylor Jackson, Emily Anderson, Sara Hughes, Jaclyn Wedemeyer International Festival  Seo Park, Katlyn Clark, Yasmina Margolis Library Volunteers/Book Fair  Lindsay McConn, Liz Hancock, Caroline Reckling Lost and Found (NEW) Amber Keckley, Allison Durig, Yasmina Margolis, Alicia Hudson Lunch with Heroes Amy Polidori, Lori Knopp, Amber Keckley Newsletter Editors Amy Polidori, Jadrien Grimes, Jessica Lammlein, Tine Purvis PTA Lifetime Membership  Lifetime award winners PTA Membership Jennifer Jones PTA Store & PTA Website Emily Anderson Red Ribbon Week/ Drug Awareness  Karen Hibbard Room Parent Chairs Karen Hibbard, Audrey Springer Dad's Club Kyle Mitchan SBEF Liaison Jennifer Esfahani Sister School Liaison Jill Bell, Allison Durig, Emily Macey, Jill Wright and Carol Wood Social Chairs (NEW) Allison Durig (Lead)      Kindergarten Catherine Herring, Maria Soechting      1st Grade Taryn Mitchan, Caroline Reckling      2nd Grade Annie Kerr, Jill Caltagirone      3rd Grade Jill, Wright, Lauren McConn      4th Grade Neda Axelrod, Jane Thomas      5th Grade Jennay Swinbank, Jennifer Rayburn Spirit Store  Liz Hancock(co-Lead) / Mary Margaret Broiler,(co-Lead) Kathryn Murphy, Brooke Marquart, Ashley Jones, Brittney Faulk, Trisha Moore Spelling Bee Annie Kerr Talent Show  Jaclyn Wedemeyer and Allison Durig Teacher Workroom Volunteers Jadrien Grimes  Veteran's Day/Week Ashley Weathers Yearbook Elaine Menger,  Amber Keckley

 

If you are interested in chairing a committee or volunteering on a committee for the 2025-2026 school year please feel free to contact Whitney Earnheart with any questions!

 

 

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

 

Advocacy/Legislative… This person stays up to date on legislative changes that affect Texas Education and works closely with the Council of PTA Advocacy Chair to share relevant information with the HCE community and help get community involvement when needed.

 

Beginning Bonanza… On the first day of school, the committee hosts “Beginning Bonanza” in the school cafeteria. This is a volunteer fair at which parents can sign up for various school activities and PTA committees for the year.

 

Corporate Underwriting... Responsible for identifying, contacting and working with local business owners interested in supporting our school.   

 

Cougar Fall Festival (MOVED TO THE FALL THIS YEAR)...A fun-filled afternoon for the whole family with games, food, cake walk, photo booth, silly string, confetti eggs, inflatables and much more.

 

Cougar RAFFLE (Still in the Spring)...An event all our students look forward to participating in with opportunities to win big prizes and even take home a bunny!

 

Daddy Daughter Dance... Coordinates with the auction team to host a Valentine's-themed dance at the school with dads and special friends

 

D.A.R.E... A drug prevention program to 5^th graders. 

 

Directory... Collects family data from Membership Toolkit to be printed in the school-wide directory. Responsible for printing and distribution of directories. Works with families and business owners to create printed ads. Also, meets with printer and data chairs, provides ad layout for directory, and delivers directories to advertisers.

 

Field Day… Students participate in a variety of athletic activities and earn ribbons for completing each activity. This event is held during the school day.

 

Fifth Grade Celebration... Multiple events for 5th grade: field trip, end of school party, video, memory book and t-shirts. The 5th grade class also donates a gift to HCE.

 

Fifth Grade Track Meet... Coordinate the 5th grade track meet.

 

Financial Reconciliation Committee… This committee is comprised of three current PTA members, approved by the Executive Committee. They are charged with reconciling the PTA financial records from the previous school year, and reporting their findings to the general PTA. This audit takes place during the month of July.

 

Fourth Grade Makers Faire… This event encourages 4th grade students to think like young scientists. It culminates with a viewing by all the classes and an evening viewing by family and friends.

 

Front Office Volunteers… The school office relies on the assistance of parent volunteers. Office volunteers generally work a 2-hour shift once a month. 

 

Gallery Night/Student Displays… Setting up art and student work display in the hallway and cafeteria. Assists the Art Teacher in setting up Gallery Night.

 

Grandparents' Day... Grandparents and special friends are invited to join students for donuts in the cafeteria before experiencing the "morning meeting" classroom environment.  A special presentation about Hunters Creek Elementary will follow for grandparents and special friends to learn more about the school.   

 

Grant Committee At-Large Members This committee meets regularly to review grant submissions which are allocated based on prioritization and available PTA funds. 

 

GT Parent Advisory Committee Rep...  Is the HCE liaison with the SBISD’s Office of Advanced Academic Affairs (AAS).

 

Hands on Science (HOS)... Students in 4th & 5th grades receive enrichment in their science classes through hands on experiences in physical science, anatomy, physiology, and dissection. Parent volunteers assist students.

 

Healthy Lifestyles... Promotes healthy eating habits at school lunches and health conscious events such as Bike to School Day.

 

Hospitality/Teacher Appreciation Lunches… Plans teacher appreciation lunches several times a year.

 

International Festival... International Fest will take place in January/February and consist of a school-wide parade plus an evening event parents can attend highlighting different cultures, customs and foods from around the world.

 

Library Volunteers… Coordinates the Library volunteers to help the librarian and students in the library throughout the year. Also, assist our librarian with various projects as needed (for example:  Author visits, summer book exchange)

 

Lunch with Heroes… Coordinates the annual Lunch with Heroes – remembering 9/11 and honoring our local heroes. Students are joined by the local police department and fire department officials for a lunch cherished by the students.

 

Newsletter Editors… Publishes the Cougar Express every week and manages other newsletters for distribution to the HCE community.

 

PTA Lifetime Membership… Coordinates the Lifetime Membership awards given to outstanding volunteers at HCE. These awards are presented at the May PTA meeting.  (Must be a PTA Lifetime Award recipient)

 

PTA Membership... All parents are encouraged to join the PTA. Chair will oversee the membership campaign during the school year.  Membership includes dues for the local PTA, as well as state and national congresses. Our Goal: 100% participation at Hunters Creek Elementary!

 

PTA Store & PTA Website… Update the HCE PTA website with PTA resources, forms, board information, and calendar information.

 

Red Ribbon Week/ Drug Awareness… Each fall during this week, communities unite to educate children about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and show them the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. In conjunction with the school counselor, ribbons are hung around the school and programs are coordinated to increase awareness of the dangers of drugs. 

 

Room Parent Chairs… Each class has a parent volunteer who is the liaison between the teacher and parents and assists the teacher with classroom activities (as needed). Responsibilities include recruiting parent volunteers for class parties and events, coordinating recognition of teacher birthdays, and communicating volunteer opportunities for events such as Family Fair and Cougar Carnival. Room parents are selected the first week of school from those parents who express interest by returning the room parent selection form.

 

Safety / Dads Club... Manages the SBISD traffic guard that the PTA pays to have on campus in the mornings and promotes school safety. 

 

SBEF Liaison… Representative to Spring Branch Education Foundation. Attend SBEF meeting in September, Bright Stars in February.

 

Sister School Liaison... Organizes events and supports fundraisers throughout the school year for our sister school, Woodview Elementary.

 

Social Chairs (NEW THIS YEAR)... Organizes events and parties for HCE representing all grade levels.   Coordinates back to school and end of school parties, silent auction items, parking spots for events, etc. 

 

Spirit Store... Coordinate the online store sales of all HCE spirit items.

 

Spelling Bee… 3rd – 5th graders compete in classroom bees in October. The top speller from each classroom bee, plus a few additional top spellers from each grade, advance to the school-wide bee in December. Winners of the school-wide bee advance to the district-level bee in late January or early February.

 

Talent Show… Coordinates the spring talent show.

 

Teacher Workroom Volunteers… Teachers rely on volunteers to help copy, laminate, cut and paste various worksheets and items for their classrooms and grade levels.  Please consider signing up for a regular shift once a month in our Teacher Workroom.  It’s a great way to volunteer and help our teachers!

 

Veteran's Day/Week… Puts on the Veteran's Day performance with the music teacher and helps with all Veteran's Day needs such as decorating the school and bringing in vets to talk to students

 

Yearbook... The yearbook contains photos of individual students, class groups, school functions and PTA activities. The books will be delivered to the students in May. Yearbook supply is limited, so orders should be placed early. Yearbook printing deadlines are in November, January and March. Photo editing and page building uses photo software.