Walnut Heights PTA

Volunteer at Walnut Heights

Walnut Heights runs on the time and energy of parent and family volunteers. From helping in the classroom to running our biggest events of the year, every hour given makes a real difference in our kids' school experience, and there's a role for every schedule and comfort level.

What volunteering can look like:

• Classroom support - helping teachers with projects, reading groups, or classroom parties
• Event help - book fairs, fall carnival, teacher appreciation week, field day, and more
• Annual Auction Gala - supporting the biggest event of the year that funds supplies, yearbooks, and school programs
• Committee roles - joining a PTA committee to help plan and lead throughout the year
• One-time or ongoing - some opportunities are a single afternoon, others are a weekly or monthly commitment

Why it matters:

Our school depends on volunteers to make so much possible from enriched classroom experiences to memorable events, and programs that wouldn't exist without extra hands. No contribution is too small, and every bit of help lightens the load for our teachers and staff while building a stronger school community.

Ready to get involved? Go to the link below and let us know what interests you!

Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer 

What You Need to Know

The Walnut Creek School District has updated its volunteer clearance process in response to recent changes to California law, including Senate Bill 848, which established new safety requirements for certain school volunteers, including annual mandated reporter training and additional screening requirements based on the nature of a volunteer's role.

We know our school communities run on parent and community involvement, and we want to make sure every family can navigate this new process smoothly so you can keep showing up for our kids.

What’s changed? 

The District now has two levels of volunteer clearance based on the type of volunteer activities you plan to perform. Which level you need depends on your role:

• Visitor/Participant — No clearance needed. This covers things like attending school events, PTA meetings, or parent-teacher conferences.
• Level 1: For volunteers working directly with students under a staff member's continuous supervision (classroom helpers, event support, etc.). Requires district training, current TB clearance, and annual Mandated Reporter Training.
• Level 2: For volunteers supervising students without staff present, or serving as approved drivers (lunch duty, field trip chaperones, etc.). Requires everything in Level 1, plus a Live Scan fingerprint background check, a valid CA driver's license, and proof of auto insurance if driving.

Why it matters: 

These steps exist to keep our campuses safe and welcoming for every student, while making sure our volunteers, many of whom are trusted, familiar faces in our schools, are properly vetted and trained. A little extra paperwork now means peace of mind for everyone all year long.

Getting started: 

Review the full requirements and access training links, Live Scan instructions, and TB clearance details on the District's Volunteer Requirements page. If you have questions about which level applies to you, reach out to our school office. 

Click Here to Start the Volunteer Requirements

Next Association Meeting: August 28, 2026

• Agenda (coming soon!)
• Treasurer’s Report (coming soon!)

Association meetings are typically held on the third Thursday of the month, either on campus or via Zoom. Please mark your calendar for the dates, times, and locations below:

• August 28* (On Campus) – 6:30 PM 
• September 17 (On Campus) – 6:30 PM 
• October 15 (Zoom) – 7:00 PM  
• November 19 (Zoom) – 7:00 PM  
• December 10* – Holiday Coffee (On Campus) – 8:30 AM 
• January 21 (Zoom) – 7:00 PM 
• February 18 (Zoom) – 7:00 PM 
• March 18 (On Campus) – 7:00 PM 
• April 29* (On Campus) – 7:00 PM 
• May 20 (Zoom) – 7:00 PM 

*Dates marked with an asterisk fall outside the usual third-Thursday schedule.

Stay Connected: PTA Communication Channels

Staying in the loop at Walnut Heights is easy! Here's a quick guide to the different ways the PTA keeps you informed:

WhatsApp Grade-Level Groups
Join your child's grade-level WhatsApp group to connect with other parents, get quick reminders, and ask questions in real time. It's a great way to stay in touch with your grade-level community. 

Join your child's grade-level WhatsApp group to connect with other parents, get quick reminders, and ask questions in real time. It's a great way to stay in touch with your grade-level community. Email us to get the QR code for the grade-level WhatsApp thread that applies to you.

Weekly PTA Email (Monday)
Sent out early each week, this email gives you a quick snapshot of what's happening in the days ahead, including key dates, reminders, and anything you need to know.

Principal's E-News (Wednesday)
Each Wednesday, the principal sends out the school-wide e-news, which always includes a PTA message with updates and highlights from us.

Parent Square
For school and district-wide communications like attendance, announcements, and official notices, check Parent Square, which is our school and district's primary communication platform.

Together, these channels make sure you never miss important school and PTA news. We recommend joining your grade-level WhatsApp group and keeping an eye out for our Monday email and the Wednesday e-news to stay fully connected!