Dear Parents/Guardians and Family members:

Individual classroom teachers will handle all volunteer assignments. Every teacher has different needs with regards to volunteers. Some need individuals on a weekly basis, while others may require several only during four or five major events throughout the year. Please ask your students’ teacher how they anticipate using classroom help. Faculty will make every effort to include all parents that want to participate in the classroom.

As principal, I have expectations regarding volunteers. These beliefs stem from my desire to make the volunteering experience as favorable as possible for students, staff and you. Please review these and feel free to call me with any questions. First step: Please be sure there is a current WA State Patrol check on file at the District office.

**ONCE APPROVED, THIS FORM IS VALID FOR 2 YEARS FROM THE APPROVAL DATE**

Sign In & Sign Out

All volunteers must sign in and out at the main office. As a safety measure, it allows the school to know who is or who has been in the building. Signing in also helps the school to find you if there is an emergency. Lastly, signing “in” and “out” enables us to collect and tabulate volunteer hours necessary for many grant applications. When signing in, please wear your volunteer badge or a visitor’s tag each and every time you visit and return it when you sign out.

Volunteer Role

A volunteer provides support not only to the students, but also to the teacher. The nature of this support is based on the discretion of the teacher for whom you are volunteering. As a parent, you have a unique perspective and ability to understand students. However, as a volunteer, you must act in that capacity first and foremost.

Professionalism

Although the job is voluntary, the commitment is professional. Besides maintaining an attitude of mutual respect and confidence, you should become familiar with school and classroom policies and practices. Working with the teaching staff requires flexibility and a willingness to follow directions. Please be on time! Volunteers’ timeliness affects a teacher’s ability to execute their daily plan. Remember, too, that teacher’s desks are private. Please do not go through their papers or files. As well, we expect your attire to follow the students’ clothing guidelines that they also much follow, as a good example of following school rules. The guidelines are found in our school agenda and handbook.

Confidentiality

Volunteers must protect the teachers’ and students’ right to privacy. Once a volunteer begins to work in a school setting, she/he becomes privy to knowledge about children’s behavior patterns, academic ability, emotional maturity, relationships with others, etc. In some cases, information of this nature is imparted so that the volunteer can work more effectively with the child. In other cases, it is simply acquired in the course of frequent contact in the school. In addition, volunteers are in a position to learn more about staff members than would normally be learned from their public image. Regardless of how a volunteer comes by this type of information and/or develops personal opinions, it is considered privileged, and must be kept personal and private. If you have a concern, please contact me.

Discipline

Allow the teachers to discipline children. If there are incidents of misbehavior, it is the teacher’s job to handle them. As a volunteer, it is helpful to be specific about rules and expectations with students. Keep limits and boundaries in place. Consistently and calmly work with students, taking a neutral stance, restating rules and expectations, and offering reasonable choices.

Refrain from Hallway Chatter

Chatting in the hallway is disruptive to teachers and students. If you need to talk with another parent, it is best to do this quietly in the office or outside.

Preschoolers/Siblings

Please do not bring preschoolers or siblings when you volunteer. Exceptions may be made for classroom parties. Check with your child’s teacher.

We look forward to seeing many of you here at Central this year! Thanks you for your commitment to our school and our incredible students.

Mrs. Sokol
Principal
Central Elementary School