Welcome to the Byrom Parent/Student Organization (PSO)! Every Byrom parent and guardian is a member of the PSO, and there are so many ways to get involved—whether you have one hour to give at an event, can help from home, or are interested in taking on a leadership role.
🏫 ART & ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
🎨 ART Literacy
The district’s Art Literacy program gives students the opportunity to learn about artists, artistic styles, and different mediums and then create artwork of their own. The PSO helps fund the program and provides volunteers to bring the lessons to life in classrooms.
What the chair/lead volunteer does:
- Coordinate with teachers regarding classroom schedules and projects
- Work with the district Art Literacy program
- Attend district meetings or training as needed
- Help plan school-wide art projects
- Order and organize supplies
- Maintain supplies in the Art Literacy room
- Recruit classroom volunteers
- Communicate project instructions to volunteers
- Help train volunteers before lessons
Volunteer needs:
Typically 2–3 volunteers per classroom, depending on the project.
Great for: Someone who enjoys art, creativity, working with children, or organizing projects
✏️ Classroom Supplies
Each year, PSO helps make sure Byrom teachers have the classroom supplies they need to start the school year ready to go. This volunteer role is all about connecting with teachers, organizing their requests, and making sure supplies arrive before students return.
What Does the Volunteer Do?
The Classroom Supplies volunteer helps coordinate the process from teacher requests through delivery, including:
- Communicating with teachers to find out what supplies they need
- Collecting and organizing teacher supply requests
- Creating a master list of requested supplies
- Coordinating with the PSO board regarding the available budget
- Shopping for and purchasing approved supplies
- Keeping track of purchases and receipts
- Sorting and organizing supplies by classroom
- Preparing supplies for delivery
- Coordinating delivery of classroom supplies to teachers in August
- Communicating with teachers if questions or substitutions come up
This role is busiest during the summer and especially in August, making it a great opportunity for someone who has more flexibility during the summer months.
Great for: Volunteers who are organized, enjoy shopping and planning, and like making teachers’ lives a little easier before the school year begins!
🚌 Grade-Level Enrichment
The PSO supports educational opportunities beyond the regular classroom, including:
- Assemblies
- Outside educational groups
- Special enrichment experiences
Great for: Parents who enjoy supporting hands-on learning and want to work with a particular grade level.
📖 Library
The Byrom library takes a community of volunteers to keep it thriving.
Volunteer opportunities can include:
- Library organization
- Book purchasing
- Volunteer coordination
- Volunteer training
- Books of the Month
- Media support
- Displays and special projects
- Before-school volunteering
- During-school volunteering
- After-school volunteering
A library coordinator may oversee several different volunteer areas.
Great for: Book lovers, organized volunteers, and parents who want a recurring volunteer opportunity.
📚 Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)
OBOB is a statewide voluntary reading and comprehension program.
At Byrom, students in 3rd–5th grade participate in the elementary division. Students read books from the annual OBOB list and form teams to compete by answering questions about the books.
The program encourages students to:
- Read widely
- Develop reading comprehension
- Explore different literary styles and viewpoints
- Work as a team
- Build confidence
- Develop a lifelong love of reading
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help coordinate the Byrom program
- Support student teams
- Help organize practices
- Assist with the school competition
- Help coordinate volunteers
- Support students advancing to regional competition
Great for: Readers, book lovers, and parents who enjoy encouraging students’ academic interests.
🗓️ EVENTS & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
🌱 Byrom Garden
We’re thrilled that Byrom has a Garden Chair and that our school garden is growing again! The Byrom Garden is a shared space with local Girl Scout troops and provides students with a hands-on learning environment where they can explore:
- Plants
- Flowers
- Gardening
- Nature
- Seasonal changes
- Growing food and other plants
The garden gives students an opportunity to connect with nature, get their hands dirty, and discover the magic of growing things from the ground up.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Garden maintenance
- Planting
- Seasonal projects
- Student garden activities
- Organizing supplies
- Garden work days
- Supporting Girl Scout and school partnerships
Great for: Gardeners, outdoor enthusiasts, families, and anyone who enjoys hands-on projects.
🎈 Class Parties
Class parties have transitioned to two school-wide celebrations (see below) and one special classroom party.
The Friendship Party in February is the primary classroom celebration where parent volunteers help create a fun and memorable experience for students. Each classroom has a dedicated parent who organizes this party.
The Friendship Party may include:
- Games
- Crafts
- Snacks
- Classroom activities
- Valentine exchanges
It is a warm and joyful celebration of friendship and community.
🎃 Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is a Halloween celebration that is fun, festive, and scare-free! Each classroom gets the opportunity to decorate a table or trunk and create a festive spot filled with treats and prizes. Students then walk with their class from trunk to trunk to collect goodies and enjoy the celebration. Because it takes place during lunch recess, it is a fun and safe way for the whole Byrom community to celebrate Halloween together.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help coordinate classroom parent participation
- Help with decorations
- Organize treats and prizes
- Communicate information with school
- Assist during the event
Great for: Parents who enjoy Halloween, decorating, and short, fun event commitments.
❄️ Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is Byrom’s festive school-wide holiday celebration. After a joyful school-wide assembly to kick off winter break, each grade enjoys a day filled with:
- Holiday-themed crafts
- Games and activities
- Snacks
- Seasonal fun
- Time with classmates
It is a wonderful opportunity to create special memories and spread some holiday cheer throughout the school.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help plan activities
- Prepare crafts
- Organize supplies
- Coordinate classroom volunteers
- Help with snacks
- Assist during the event
- Help with setup and cleanup
Great for: Parents who enjoy the holiday season, decorating, and short, fun event commitments.
💙 Family Nights at Byrom
Family Nights are designed to bring our Byrom community together in fun and meaningful ways. These events give students, parents, teachers, and staff an opportunity to connect outside the classroom, make memories, and build relationships. Past Family Night events have included:
🍂 Fall Festival at Lee Farms
Each fall, the PSO sponsors a free family outing at Lee Farms—just for Byrom! Families enjoy fall-themed activities, treats, and fun alongside teachers and staff.
🔬 STEM Night
We partner with organizations such as OMSI, robotics teams, and other science partners to bring STEM to life. Families can explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on and interactive activities.
🎱 Bingo Night
A crowd favorite!Families enjoy treats, prizes, and plenty of laughs. This free event is open to everyone—and everyone gets to go home with something!
🧸 Stuffy Movie Night
Students come in their comfiest pajamas, bring a favorite stuffed animal, and settle in at Byrom for a cozy movie night with friends.
🏀 Blazer Night
Byrom families and staff can enjoy a night of basketball together at a Portland Trail Blazers game, with discounted tickets available to our community.
💃 Family Dance
The Family Dance is a fun evening for Byrom students and their families to come together, dance, play, and enjoy time with the school community. The event can include music, dancing, simple games or activities, photo opportunities, snacks, and plenty of chances for families to connect.
Family Night Volunteer Responsibilities
The coordinator/chair may:
- Help select event themes
- Coordinate dates and logistics
- Work with the school
- Coordinate vendors or community partners
- Recruit volunteers
- Arrange food and refreshments
- Organize activities
- Communicate with families
- Coordinate setup and cleanup
Great for: Creative, social, and event-oriented volunteers.
🎭 Missoula Children’s Theatre
MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE: AFTER SCHOOL MUSICAL
Each year, Byrom partners with the Missoula Children’s Theatre to bring an exciting, week-long theater experience to our students! Two professionally trained theater educators arrive with everything needed to put on a full production—including scripts, costumes, props, and sets. Students audition on Monday after school, and rehearsals begin that same day. Throughout the week, students work together after school to learn their roles, practice their scenes, and prepare for the big performance. The week wraps up with two performances on Saturday at Byrom or the local high school auditorium, giving students the chance to take the stage and share their hard work with family and friends.
The production changes from year to year and is typically a fun, quirky musical adaptation of a familiar story. The program provides opportunities for approximately 50–70 students to participate on stage, making it a wonderful experience for both seasoned performers and kids who are trying theater for the first time. Past productions have included Alice and Wonderland, Rumplulstilskin, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers help make this fast-paced week possible and may assist with:
- Communication with the Missoula team
- Student check-in and supervision
- Rehearsal logistics
- Communication with families
- Snacks and meals
- Costume and prop assistance
- Backstage support
- Performance-day logistics
- Setup and cleanup
Great for: Parents who enjoy theater, working with kids, or being part of a fun, high-energy week that culminates in an exciting performance!
🎓 5th Grade Party & Legacy Project
🌟5th Grade Party
Fifth grade is a special year at Byrom—the students are getting ready to say goodbye to elementary school! The 5th Grade Party is a chance to celebrate everything they’ve experienced together and give our graduating Bobcats one last fun day with their friends.
The choice is yours! Each year, fifth-grade families can decide what kind of celebration they want to create. Host a big party at the park with a fun theme, bouncing houses, games, food, and activities—or choose another experience that feels special to your class. In past years, families have also celebrated at Big Al’s with bowling, games, and time together.The goal isn’t to recreate a specific event from year to year—it’s to let the fifth-grade families create a celebration that is fun, memorable, and uniquely theirs!
🌟 Legacy Project
The Legacy Project is a creative and meaningful tradition where the fifth graders work together to leave something behind at Byrom for future students to enjoy and remember them by. This could be an art project, installation, or another lasting contribution to the school community.
Volunteer Responsibilities
- Coordinate with fifth-grade families
- Help choose the party theme and format
- Plan the celebration and activities
- Coordinate with parks, venues, or vendors as needed
- Arrange games, bouncing houses, food, entertainment, or other activities
- Coordinate the Legacy Project
- Work with a local artist when applicable
- Communicate plans and details to fifth-grade families
- Recruit parent volunteers
- Coordinate setup and cleanup
- Help create a memorable final celebration for our graduating Bobcats
Great for: Fifth-grade parents who want to help create a fun, memorable send-off for their kids—and who like having the freedom to make the celebration their own!
❤️ STAFF APPRECIATION
Staff Appreciation is all about celebrating the incredible teachers and staff who make Byrom so special. Each year, the PSO plans a week-long celebration in May filled with thoughtful surprises, meals, treats, and other ways to show our gratitude.Throughout the year, we also support staff with smaller acts of kindness, such as:
- Coffee bar pop-ups
- Stocking the staff room
- Special surprises
- Seasonal appreciation events
What the chair does:
- Plan the annual appreciation calendar
- Coordinate Teacher Appreciation Week
- Organize food and treats
- Recruit volunteers
- Coordinate donations
- Communicate with staff
- Think of creative ways to make staff feel appreciated
This is a role where the chair gets to be creative, thoughtful, and intentional in finding meaningful ways to say: “We appreciate you!”
🎒 COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Backpack Program
The Backpack Program provides kid-friendly meals and snacks each week for Byrom students experiencing food insecurity. The PSO relies heavily on fundraising and community donations to keep this program running.
Coordinator responsibilities:
- Create the monthly volunteer rotation if possible
- Coordinate weekly backpack stuffing
- Coordinate food donations
- Communicate with the Family Partnership liaison
- Communicate donation needs to Byrom families
- Make sure backpacks are prepared each week
Backpacks are typically stuffed by Thursday.
Volunteer needs: Approximately 2-4 recurring volunteers each month.
Great for: Someone who wants to make a direct and meaningful difference for Byrom families.
💰 FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS
💙 Bobcat Benefit
The Bobcat Benefit is Byrom’s signature fundraising event—a lively evening full of games, entertainment, student artwork, community spirit, and fundraising.
The event includes:
- Student art auction
- Games
- Activities
- Entertainment
- Community gathering
- Fundraising opportunities
As one of our biggest events, it takes an amazing team of dedicated volunteers to bring everything together.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Event planning
- Procurement
- Business donations
- Student art
- Decorations
- Class baskets
- Classroom projects
- Games
- Check-in
- Setup and cleanup
- Marketing and communication
Many jobs can be completed from home, by phone, or while running errands around town.
Great for: Parents who enjoy fundraising, event planning, networking, decorating, or behind-the-scenes work.
📚 Book Fair
We host a Book Fair once or twice a year, giving students and families a fun opportunity to explore and purchase new books while supporting our school library.
The Book Fair is a great way to encourage a love of reading while raising money to support literacy and library programs at Byrom.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help establish the theme
- Set up displays
- Staff the Book Fair
- Help students and families
- Coordinate volunteers
- Help with cleanup and tear-down
🏃 Jog-a-Thon
Jog-a-Thon is Byrom’s biggest fundraiser of the year—and one of the most exciting events on campus!
The whole school gets involved. Students collect pledges and run laps to raise money for PSO-funded programs.
Teachers join the fun by dressing in creative costumes, and each grade gets a chance to run, cheer, and celebrate together.
It is a high-energy day filled with:
- School spirit
- Teamwork
- Costumes
- Music
- Running
- Cheering
- Community support
—all while raising money that directly supports Byrom students.
Chair responsibilities:
Planning begins well before the fall event and may include:
- Creating a planning timeline
- Coordinating T-shirt orders
- Communicating with families
- Communicating with teachers and staff
- Organizing fundraising materials
- Coordinating prizes
- Recruiting volunteers
- Planning the event-day schedule
- Coordinating setup and cleanup
- Completing post-event tasks
Volunteer needs:
A large number of volunteers are needed on event day, with additional help before and after the event.
Great for: Organized planners who enjoy big events, fundraising, and school spirit.
🥧 Pie Fundraiser
Who doesn’t love a good pie? Our annual Pie Fundraiser is a delicious way for families to support Byrom while raising money for the programs and experiences that make our school special.
We partner with a local pie company to offer a variety of pies, giving families an easy way to support the PSO while stocking up on treats for their own tables. Proceeds go toward our general fund, which helps support things like teacher classroom needs, field trips, Art Literacy, STEM and educational assemblies, and other student and school programs throughout the year.
Chair responsibilities:
The Pie Fundraiser is a great short-term volunteer opportunity. Chair may help with:
- Promoting the fundraiser and sharing ordering information with families
- Answering parent questions about ordering and pickup
- Helping organize and track orders
- Coordinating with the pie company
- Preparing for and organizing pie pickup
- Helping families find their orders during pickup
- Coordinating optional deliveries, if offered
- Helping with setup and cleanup
The fundraiser runs for a limited time each fall, with pies distributed to families after the ordering period closes.
Great for: Volunteers who enjoy organizing, coordinating details, communicating with families, or helping with a fun one-time fundraiser!
📖 Read-a-Thon
The Read-a-Thon is one of Byrom’s most fun and inspiring fundraisers because students raise money simply by reading!
Students collect pledges based on either:
- The number of books they read, or
- The amount of time they spend reading
It is a great way to encourage a love of reading while supporting PSO programs.
Every page turned helps make a difference for our school!
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help organize the fundraiser
- Communicate with families
- Track participation
- Help promote reading
- Assist with prizes or recognition
- Help with wrap-up activities
🧾 Redemption & Restaurant Nights
These are some of the easiest ways to support Byrom throughout the year.
Redemption Programs
Redemption programs allow everyday purchases to benefit Byrom. Examples may include:
- Box Tops
- Fred Meyer Rewards
- Other community shopping programs
Families can participate simply by scanning eligible receipts or linking their rewards account to Byrom.
Restaurant Nights
Restaurant Nights typically happen 3–5 times per year.Families can enjoy a meal out while a portion of the evening’s sales is donated back to Byrom. It’s a simple way to: Skip cooking + connect with other Byrom families + support the school!
Volunteer responsibilities:
- Contact local restaurants
- Arrange fundraising dates
- Confirm fundraising requirements
- Coordinate promotional materials
- Communicate events to families
- Track or document results as needed
🍫 See’s Candy Fundraiser
Sweeten up your support for Byrom! Our See’s Candy Fundraiser gives families an easy way to purchase some of their favorite treats while helping raise money for PSO programs and activities. This is primarily an online fundraiser, making it a simple way for families to participate without needing to sell door-to-door or keep inventory at home.
What Does the Volunteer Do?
The See’s Candy volunteer helps coordinate the fundraiser from start to finish, including:
- Setting up and managing the online candy sale
- Sharing ordering information and deadlines with families
- Promoting the fundraiser through school communication channels
- Answering parent questions and helping troubleshoot orders
- Communicating with See’s Candy as needed
- Monitoring the fundraiser and tracking progress
- Coordinating any final order or distribution details
- Sharing the fundraising results with the PSO board
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys online organization, communication, and coordinating a fundraiser without needing to be at school every day.
Great for: Volunteers who like working behind the scenes, organizing online details, and helping families participate in an easy, low-pressure fundraiser.
🙋 OTHER WAYS TO VOLUNTEER
Not every volunteer needs to chair a program!
We are always looking for people who can help with:
- Event setup and cleanup
- Decorating
- Making signs
- Distributing flyers
- Taking photos
- Organizing supplies
- Picking up donations
- Working check-in tables
- Running activity stations
- Donating food or supplies
- Connecting the PSO with local businesses
- Recruiting other volunteers
- Sharing PSO information with other families
There is a place for every volunteer at Byrom.
💙 What Makes a Great PSO Volunteer?
You don’t need to be an expert.
You don’t need to have lots of free time.
You don’t need to know everyone at school.
You simply need to be willing to help.
The best volunteers are:
- Reliable
- Communicative
- Flexible
- Willing to ask questions
- Comfortable asking others for help
- Team-oriented
- Excited about supporting Byrom students
- Willing to share their skills—or learn something new!
And remember:
You don’t have to do it all.
A successful PSO chair builds a team, delegates tasks, communicates clearly, and asks other parents to help.
We want volunteering to be fun, sustainable, rewarding, and manageable.
🌟 Ready to Get Involved?
Whether you have one hour to give or would love to lead an entire program, we’d love to have you join us!
If you’re interested in a volunteer position, want to learn more about a specific program, or aren’t sure where you would fit best, reach out to the PSO Volunteer Coordinator.
Email: byromvolunteer@gmail.com
We’ll help connect you with an experienced volunteer and find an opportunity that fits your interests, schedule, and comfort level.