Want to volunteer?
Thank you for your willingness to volunteer your time at our schools. We believe that you are an integral part of our work educating students, and we encourage you to actively participate in our childrens’ educations.
In order to begin volunteering in any capacity within the schools, you will need to be approved through the District Office.
You will need to complete the follow forms.
Once completed the form is submitted to the Principal, and then sent on to the District Office for processing.
We will notify you immediately when you are cleared to volunteer, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation regarding our volunteer guidelines.
Signing in at the office
You will need to sign in at the office and obtain a visitor’s badge each time you volunteer. The visitor’s badge needs to be worn at all times while on campus. The procedure of having all visitors and volunteers sign in serves two functions. In the event of an emergency, the school office will know exactly how many people are on campus. A more important function is that by having visitors sign in at the office and wear badges, the school staff is instantly able to identify a person who is authorized to be at school.
Scheduling a time to volunteer
When you are volunteering at school it is vital that you maintain the schedule you have established with the teacher, or schedule your volunteer time well in advance with the teacher so that he/she is prepared for you and thus best able to utilize you in the classroom.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in your association with teachers and students. What you see and hear at school is private. You are in a unique position when you volunteer in the schools to have information that is not meant to be shared. Students you observe in the classroom or the school cannot be discussed with other parents, faculty, or staff. Please refer any question regarding students to the child’s teacher or principal.
Language/Behavior
Remember, we are all, (teachers, staff and volunteers) role models for the children around us. Students are watching, listening and learning appropriate behavior from our actions. Inappropriate language or discussions are not allowed on campus or on field trips.
Working in the classroom
You are under the direct supervision of the teachers and need to use your skill within the system established in the classroom. If one of the students is your child, it is a natural tendency to focus more attention on your student. Please explain to your child that you are in the room to help the entire class, and you have a job to do, just like he/she does. This will ensure that both you and your child have a positive experience.
Discipline
Volunteers are never to discipline students. Discipline is solely the responsibility of the teachers, who are the professionals hired to plan the lessons and see that they are implemented. The volunteer always works under the direction of the teacher to help, not replace the teacher.
If you are supervising a group of children and the teacher is unavailable, volunteers may appropriately address safety or behavior issues, and it is the responsibility of the volunteer to inform the teacher as soon as possible about these issues. However, any consequences for behavior are to be left to the teacher.
Field Trips
When attending field trips, parents must ride on the bus with the class. This will ensure that everyone arrives and leaves at the same time and the class is not delayed waiting for a chaperone. Please also remember that you may not bring another child or sibling on any field trip.
Restrooms
Please use the restrooms designated for staff— student restrooms are not to be used by adult volunteers
Dress
Volunteers are asked to use good judgment with regard to proper school attire. Please do not wear clothes that carry an inappropriate message or reference the use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are to be turned off in the classrooms. If you need to be reached, please let the office know you are expecting a call and the office will either take a message or try to locate you.
Tobacco
Our schools and campuses are tobacco free zones.