Welcome to Ponderosa Elementary Volunteers!

Classroom parents or parent coordinators have the opportunity to represent individual classrooms in parent organizations like the English Learners Advisory Council (ELAC), PTA, or School Site Council (SSC).

The ELAC advises the principal, School Site Council (SSC), and school staff on programs and services for English Language Learner (ELL) students by helping to develop the ELL section of the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), distributing and tabulating a needs assessment survey, and informing parents of the annual statewide language census

Consequently, ELAC members often consist of parents of ELL students.

The PTA organizes book fairs, school fundraisers, and other events and even funds various educational programs.

It helps parents stay abreast of developments at school and provides parents with a means to suggest changes to improve their school and community.

The PTA also provides information on ways parents can support their child’s education and allows parents to hone their skills and talents in service to that cause.

More importantly, the PTA connects parents with other families and helps build a sense of community.

To get involved, contact Juanita Flores at 650-877-3955 or by email

The SSC is responsible for the development and approval of the SPSA and the school site budget in seven areas:

• Implementation of a Standards-Based Instructional Program
• Establishing and Monitoring Systems of Assessment and Evaluation
• English Language Learners
• Special Education
• Equity
• Interventions
• Parent and Community Engagement

This is accomplished by a review and analysis of student data, which helps to inform decisions about school improvement strategies and the allocation of resources in support of student achievement.

Learn more about SSC

Volunteers are an essential part of our school community. To get started:

1. Fill out a School Volunteer Application – English or School Volunteer Application – Spanish.

2. Submit it to the school office with:

   • A current tuberculosis (TB) test dated within 60 days

   • A valid driver’s license

The school office will submit your packet for a fingerprinting appointment at the SSFUSD district office. Applications will not be processed without fingerprinting. Please allow at least two weeks for processing, then call the school office for an update.

Chaperoning Field Trips
Parents who wish to chaperone field trips must be fingerprinted and have a negative TB test on file.

Ponderosa Volunteer Checklist

ParentSquare is our primary communication tool for keeping families informed and connected. Through ParentSquare, you’ll receive important school and district updates, announcements, event reminders, and messages directly from teachers and staff—all in one place. You can access ParentSquare via email, text, or the mobile app, making it easy to stay up to date and engaged with your school community.

Parentsquare