Volunteer Opportunities

Admissions Events Volunteer (Fall & Spring)
The Admissions Events Volunteers serve as liaisons between new families and Thayer at multiple events planned by our Admissions Office during the school year. These events include the Upper School Open House, Middle School Open House, Welcome Receptions for the 5th grade, new 6th, 7th, & 8th graders, and new Upper School students. These volunteers are also asked to make welcome calls to newly admitted families during the spring.

Drama Hospitality - Upper School Productions (November, February, May)
These volunteers coordinate dinners for cast and crew during production week for the three Upper School shows. They also serve light refreshments at intermission on performance nights.

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch - Middle School (Thursday, February 4, 2021)
Middle School parents organize and host a potluck lunch to recognize the dedication of Middle School faculty and staff.

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch - All-School (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)
These volunteers organize and host a potluck luncheon in May to recognize the dedication of all Thayer faculty and staff.

Foreign Language Ambassador (All year, as needed)
Parents who speak languages in addition to English may be asked to reach out to members of a Thayer family whose first language is not English to help ease their transition into the Thayer community.

Homecoming (TBD, Spring)
Homecoming is Thayer’s most highly spirited and anticipated annual on-campus tradition that showcases Thayer’s fall sports teams from the Upper School. It is a day for all Thayer Academy families, alumni, and faculty to come together and celebrate our community. In addition to the athletic events, activities planned by Thayer’s parents will include carnival games, a petting zoo, face painting and a bake sale. Thayer merchandise exclusively ordered for Homecoming will also be on sale. Parents can volunteer in many different ways to prepare for Homecoming and can volunteer to help on the day of the event. There will be many shifts to choose from throughout the Homecoming festivities.

TAPA Merchandise Sales (Fall)
TAPA will be offering it’s “Limited Edition Homecoming Merchandise” online this fall.  Volunteers are needed to help with order fulfillment and curbside pickup service.

Parent Athletic Council (All Year)
The Thayer Parent Athletic Council (PAC) is a group of Thayer parents whose mission is to improve the overall sports experience for the students. This involves improving communication between the school and parents regarding sports activities while fostering a culture of team spirit.  We are looking for 5 parents to serve on this year’s Parent Athletic Council.  We would like 2 from the Middle School and 3 from the Upper School.  Meetings will be held in the morning once a month (day TBD). Responsibilities will include communicating with parents about team parent responsibilities (each sports season), assisting with various spirit events during the year including a fall pizza party, winter Black/Pink Out Night, and Spring Tailgates, and bringing constructive ideas and enthusiasm to our meetings. 

Middle School Book Fair (Spring)
Book Fair Volunteers staff this one-day event that takes place in the spring, when students come to the library and peruse a selection of books chosen by faculty to complement the school's curriculum.

Library Volunteers - Middle School (All year, as needed)
Thayer Middle School Library Volunteers assist with re-shelving books, organizing library shelves, creating library displays and helping with library events (i.e. Annual Bookfair). Volunteer hours are not fixed and based on your availability.

Library Volunteers - Upper School (All year, as needed)
These volunteers help with various activities in the Upper School Library, which could include working at the circulation desk, designing bulletin boards, managing inter-library loans, and processing new books. Volunteers typically work in the library one half day per week, a schedule that can be designed to match your availability.

PIN Representatives (All year, as needed)
Serve as a liaison for TAPA to the Parents’ Independent School Network, a volunteer organization comprised of parent representatives from greater Boston’s independent schools. Through its meetings, programs, and events, PIN strives to improve the quality of non-academic life at its member schools via the exchange of information among parent representatives. PIN Representatives attend approximately 5 PIN meetings at various school locations throughout the school year and report back to the Vice President of TAPA as needed.  Note: Meetings will be held virtually this fall.

TA Book Group
Are you an avid reader? Whether you are or you would like to be, please consider participating in our Book Group that meets on a monthly basis to discuss books chosen by the group. This group meets in the evenings in the Southworth Library, and is a great way to meet fellow Thayer parents from a broad range of years. Note: Meetings will be held virtually this fall.

Senior College Pennants (April & May 2021)
Every year the parents of seniors gather to create a pennant for each graduate, which will hang for all to see, and let the community know where the student is heading in the fall. It's a fun (but time-consuming!) project which is made easier with many volunteers. You do not have to be a senior parent to volunteer!

8th Grade Class Dinner (Thursday, May 13, 2021)
A Thayer tradition marking the end of the Middle School experience. Parent volunteers support the implementation of the dinner. Preferably 6th & 7th grade parent volunteers support the implementation of the dinner (for approximately the first hour).

10th & 11th Grade Picnic (in lieu of the Sophomore Gala) (Friday, May 14, 2021)
New this year!  A fun-filled afternoon for sophomores and juniors only.  Parents organize decorations, entertainment, and food for this event held in the spring.

The Last Hurrah! Senior Class Dinner (Thursday, May 6, 2021)
The Senior Class Dinner, otherwise known as “The Last Hurrah!”, is an event for all seniors, their parents, and Thayer faculty. It is held during the seniors’ last week of classes and is one of the last opportunities for the entire class to convene before Commencement. Parents help with on-site event logistics such as decorating the event space and setting up the registration area.

Senior Fest (Friday, June 11, 2021)
New this year! A fun-filled afternoon of music, food and games for the senior class that will take place following the seniors' Commencement practice. A committee of junior and senior parents will help plan this event.

Potluck Dinners (TBD, Spring)
Host or co-host a potluck dinner in your home for the parents in your children's grades. This is a casual (not catered!) evening where all parents bring a menu item and TAPA will offer assistance with planning.

Founders Day: A Day of Giving (Monday, February 1, 2021)
Founders Day: A Day of Giving is a one-day campaign for Thayer’s Annual Fund that celebrates the philanthropic spirit of Thayer’s founders. This is a fun community-driven event that includes a phone-a-thon, social media outreach, thank you letter signing, and lots of Tiger pride! All members of the Thayer community are invited to participate - alumni, faculty/staff, retired faculty/staff, students, parents, grandparents, and friends of Thayer. Volunteers help with community outreach to encourage support of Thayer and sign thank you notes. The goals of the day are to drive participation in the Annual Fund and celebrate the close community that is so special to Thayer.

General's Open Golf Tournament and Tennis Event
The Thayer Academy Parent Association and Thayer’s Alumni Association Board team up to plan this annual fundraiser. The funds raised by this event support Thayer’s financial aid program. Volunteers solicit sponsorships, donations for the silent auction and coordinate logistics at the golf course.

Senior Legacy (Year Round)
Senior parent volunteers work with Thayer’s Development Office to raise funds for Senior Legacy, a tradition since 2002 where the graduating class and their families celebrate this milestone by providing a gift to the Academy to benefit the next generation of students. For more information and a list of past projects, click here. Contact Stefanie Hollister, Director of Parent Giving, with questions or to volunteer (shollister@thayer.org, 781-774-2502).

Middle School Legacy (Year Round)
Eighth grade parent volunteers work with Thayer’s Development Office to raise funds for Middle School Legacy, a tradition since 2016 where the graduating class and their families celebrate this milestone by providing a gift to the Academy to benefit the next generation of Middle School students. For more information and a list of past projects, click here. Contact Stefanie Hollister, Director of Parent Giving, with questions or to volunteer (shollister@thayer.org, 781-774-2502).

If the need arises for extra hands, these parents would be available to help out with any Thayer events throughout the season(s) selected.