Planet Science is an after school club that meets once a month for five to seven months starting in October. The purpose of this club is to provide quality hands-on science enrichment for any interested second and third graders. Planet Science strives to be an extension of the school curriculum that teaches students science in a fun, interesting way! Areas of interest include; Life Sciences, Physical Science, Earth Science and the Human Body. The program also includes a Planet Science Fair where students will have the opportunity to participate with their own creation!

Responsibilities

The Chairperson is responsible for the following:

1. keeping track of the budget, including all expenses, and reimbursing all necessary groups and organizations
2. establishing dates for the monthly meetings at the beginning of the year
3. ensuring that all appropriate equipment is available and set up for the club meetings in the cafeteria
4. collecting and purchasing any necessary equipment or supplies that may be necessary for a particular month’s meeting
5. choosing the format of the year’s activities with input from committee members and supporting teachers
6. contacting the activities of interest (presenters) for availability and cost
7. choosing and purchasing snacks that are approved for allergies
8. making sure children arrive safely to their pick-up destination
9. maintaining the Planet Science binder (see below)

Committee members support the Chairperson in a variety of ways to ensure that the above list of responsibilities is accomplished. Specifically, the details of each month are as follows and may change due to current necessity. All committee members work together to accomplish these.

SEPTEMBER

1. establishing dates of monthly meetings for the upcoming year with School Secretary
2. updating sign-up sheets and distributing to all second and third graders
3. beginning to decide which educators will be appropriate for upcoming meetings, trying to include all science topics
4. contacting educators for availability and price

OCTOBER through JANUARY

1. contacting maintenance to set up all appropriate equipment for meeting
2. sending email as reminder for meeting a couple of days before meeting
3. writing name tags out for each child and distributing to classrooms prior to meeting (if necessary)
4. purchasing snack
5. reimbursing educator
6. recording all expenses for monthly meeting to keep track of budget
7. contacting educator for next month’s meeting

FEBRUARY

1. contacting maintenance to set up all appropriate equipment for meeting – tables for displaying projects
2. sending email as reminder for Science Fair a week before meeting
3. writing name tags out for each child
4. purchasing snacks and beverages
5. recording all expenses for monthly meeting to keep track of budget
6. contacting educator for next month’s meeting

MARCH

1. contacting maintenance to set up all appropriate equipment for meeting
2. sending email as reminder for meeting a couple of days before meeting
3. writing name tags out for each child and distribute to classrooms prior to meeting
4. purchasing snack
5. reimbursing educator
6. recording all expenses for monthly meeting to keep track of budget
7. contacting educator for next month’s meeting

APRIL

1. contacting maintenance to set up all appropriate equipment for meeting
2. sending email as reminder for meeting a couple of days before meeting
3. writing name tags out for each child and distribute to classrooms prior to meeting
4. purchasing snack
5. reimbursing educator
6. recording all expenses for monthly meeting to keep track of budget
7. handing in to PTA all recorded expenses for the year

Forms and Documents

All necessary and pertinent information for Planet Science has been accumulated into one three-ring binder. This binder is invaluable and includes forms, resources, schedules and expenses from 2001 to the present. The Committee Chairperson is responsible for updating this binder to include all information pertaining to the current year. The Planet Science binder is the platform from which the next year can be planned so that the club maintains continuity and quality from year to year.