FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Home and School Club?
Alta Vista Home & School Club (AVHSC) is a not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to provide enrichment opportunities for Alta Vista students – supplementing the school’s core curriculum and making the elementary school experience richer for both students and parents. An elected board of parent volunteers, the Alta Vista principal and teacher representatives govern AVHSC.  Board members are elected each May.  An annual budget is presented to and approved by the membership in attendance at Back-to-School Night in August.

How do I become a member? 
All parents and caregivers of Alta Vista students and all staff are automatically members of AVHSC. The success of AVHSC is dependent upon parents, staff and community members to fulfill its mission. Our strong community has made Alta Vista a recognized school and prized asset for so many families. 

Why is AVHSC vital to our children’s school?
Public school districts, including our own Union School District, no longer fund many of the programs and activities that Alta Vista parents may have enjoyed during their own elementary school times. Our school benefits from AVHSC’s generous support of these popular school-related programs.

What programs and activities are funded by AVHSC?
Through our fundraising efforts, AVHSC is able to fund a variety of programs and activities to enrich student’s educational experience.

Student programs

  • Art Vistas
  • Author Visits
  • Clay
  • Garden Club
  • Mileage Club
  • Performing Arts/Music Programs
  • Project Cornerstone
  • STEAM/Technology
  • Variety Show
  • Back to School Night
  • Directory/Membership
  • Dad's Club
  • Grants
  • Multi-Cultural Night
  • Room Parent Coordinator
  • Student Recognition Luncheons
  • Field trips
  • Yearbook
  • Faculty-Support programs
  • Library Support
  • Teacher's Fund/Classroom Supplies


What is AVHSC not responsible for?
While AVHSC funds and coordinates a broad range of vital programs, there are some things that are outside the mission of AVHSC, including coordinating and funding after-school activities/classes, making changes to school curriculum, and hiring teachers and support staff. Refer to Alta Vista Enrichment Program Guidelines (PDF) for more information. 

Where does funding for AVHSC come from?
AVHSC is 100% dependent on the generous, tax-deductible donations from Alta Vista parents and community members. Throughout the year, AVHSC sponsors fundraisers to support the approximately $200,000 budget that is required to maintain AVHSC’s enrichment programs.  (Please see the Fundraisers menu on the AVHSC webpage for more information.)   AVHSC receives very little funding from Alta Vista Elementary School or Union School District.

What is the CAGE Drive?
CAGE stands for Create And Give Enrichment. This a drive that we do at the beginning of the year to raise majority of the funds requirements to fund out everything from classroom supplies, class T-shirts, field trips & buses to all of our various enrichment programs such as art and clay. For more specific list of items we need to fund and the estimated cost, please visit our CAGE webpage. Requesting majority of our funding into a single payment at the beginning of the school year ensures that each teacher and each grade can plan accordingly throughout the year, and avoids repeated requests to parents and caregivers throughout the rest of the year.

Why do we need fundraisers and CAGE Drive?
CAGE Drive funds activities and supplies directly related to the classroom as well as enrichment activities. Additional fundraisers such as the annual Walkathon and Auction help supplement the remaining funds needed to support school-wide enrichment programs. The additional fundraisers are also a great way to help build relationships in the Alta Vista community. 

Is participation in fundraising and CAGE Drive mandatory? 
While fundraisers and CAGE are strictly voluntary, Alta Vista Elementary School depends on these contributions to provide the excellent educational experience that distinguishes our school.  Over time, 85%-90% of parents and caregivers generously meet the needs of their children’s classroom requirements via CAGE contributions.

How do I learn more about AVHSC?

  1. The AVHSC board meets monthly during the school year.  Board meetings are held at Alta Vista in the Teachers’ Lounge, and all parents and staff are encouraged to attend.  Meeting dates and times are listed on the H&SC calendar, which is on the home page of the AVHSC website.

  2. Members are strongly encouraged to sign-up for email blasts from AVHSC.  By joining, you will receive news from H&SC and important school announcements. So please create an account on our website if you have not already done so. 

  3. Our school newsletter, Vista Views, is published every week during the school year by the principal, staff, AVHSC, and others and is sent via e-mail.  It can also be found on the Alta Vista website. 

  4. Your child will bring home flyers from time to time (generally fundraiser sign-ups and ticket order forms) from AVHSC – so be sure to look for new information.

What volunteer opportunities are available?

  1. AVHSC has plenty of volunteer opportunities for everyone and for all levels of time commitments.  On the volunteer signup page, you will find sign-ups for classroom volunteers, including room parent, clay, Art Vistas, library, Project Cornerstone, Garden Club, Mileage Club, Dad's Club, school events and more. 

  2. Many teachers also need help with copying and organizing class work and homework packets and may have jobs that can be done at home or on a flexible schedule. Please be sure to check with your child’s teacher for volunteer opportunities.  Also, as various field trips approach, parents may be asked to volunteer as chaperones.

  3. Lastly, our fundraisers would not be successful if it were not for our volunteers.  Please be on the look out for volunteer sign-ups throughout the year or contact the respective committee chair directly.