Proposed Volunteer Policy
We believe that parent/guardian involvement is a crucial part of a child’s education. All parents/guardians of children registered at Somerset Academy are requested to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours per family each academic year. This can be either in the classroom or outside of the classroom. Somerset Academy welcomes and encourages the opportunity for parents to participate in classroom activities. Parents volunteering in the classroom may be requested to authorize a background check.
Somerset Academy requests that at least 15 hours (or 1/2 of the volunteer hour family commitment) be completed by January 30th of the current school year and all volunteer hours be completed by May 15th of the current school year.
We realize that most parents/guardians are extremely busy. Therefore, we have compiled a list of a variety of ways in which volunteer hours can be completed. The following list is not meant to be all inclusive, but is simply to assist parents in completing the volunteer hours goal. Parents should always ask their child’s teacher what they can do to contribute to the success of the classroom.
Academics:
- Read to or with children in the classroom or in the Library.
- Drill students with flash cards (ABCs, Times Tables, etc.).
- Cut out or prepare materials for an art or science lesson.
- Assist children at the computers.
- Work one-on-one with students having difficulty in a subject that you are comfortable in.
- Work one-on-one with students who speak limited English.
- Help students research information during research report writing.
- Be a guest speaker to share information about which you are well informed. For example, teach or tell about a historical event as it pertains to our social studies themes; share cultural experiences; during a career day, share job information and/or expertise. Feel free to bring in any objects related to what you are sharing. Let your child’s teacher know if you are specialized or well-informed about anything in particular at the beginning of the year. That way, the teacher can plan to have you present.
- Dramatically read and record a story onto a cassette tape for students to listen.
- Assist in teaching a foreign language lesson.
- Make educational games or manipulatives.
- Help with hands-on arts, music lessons or sing-a-longs.
- Create a center and help carry it out in the classroom.
Special Activities:
- Teach or play games with children during recess or P.E.
- Assist with an art or cooking project.
- Help with music activities, such as singing practice and instruction.
- Help paint, paper mache, or cut boxes for school play props.
- Help during special events, such as Field Days, project days, holiday parties, or fundraiser activities.
- Chaperone field trips.
- Research and call upon community resources (for guest speakers, field trip and grant suggestions, fund raising ideas, donations for special events, computer software, etc.).
- Record a special song for students to learn to sing.
- Serving on special committees.
- Help set-up/decorate bulletin boards.
- Attend school functions, meetings, and parent universities.
- Work in resource and/or media centers.
Donations (No cash, checks, gift cards accepted):
- Gently used uniforms.
- Snacks/Drinks/Candy/Treats.
- Classroom Supplies as requested by the Teacher.
- New or used books.
Below is a guideline that will be used by the classroom teacher in determining the value of credit to be given for donations.
- For every hour spent on campus or in classroom = one hour credit
- For every night meeting attended = 2 hours credit
- For every purchase of new products for the classroom = 1/4 of the price (I.e. $4.00 spent receives 1 hour credit)
- For completing a project at home (cutting out art materials) = 2 hours credit
- For organizing an event = 5 hours credit
- For counting class quarterly collection of UPC box tops or labels for education = 2 hours credit (depends upon quantity)
- For every hour in the office or media center = 1 hour credit
- For developing and sharing a lesson with a class = 4 hours credit
- For assisting in a cooking lessons and purchasing the products = 4 hours credit
- For chaperoning on a trip (in school or out of school): 1/2 day = 4 hours credit, full day = 7 hours credit
- Donating new or excellent conditioned used books: for every 5 books = 2 hours credit (books must be approved by administration prior to issuing volunteer hour credit
Any parent/guardian who would like to volunteer in the classroom must inform the classroom teacher prior to volunteering. Consent from the administration must be confirmed before parents will be allowed to enter classrooms. In addition, parents/visitors must sign-in at the main office and obtain a visitor’s pass. In order to ensure the safety of all of our students, NO PARENTS/VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED BEYOND THE MAIN OFFICE WITHOUT A VISITOR’S PASS.
It is the responsibility of the parent to communicate with their child’s teacher(s) to complete the hours. Notices of completed hours will be sent along with quarterly report cards to assist parents in tracking their volunteer hours. In addition, a reminder will be sent during the fourth quarter of the school year to assist and encourage parents to achieve the 30 hour goal. Please remember, that parents/guardians involved in their child’s education is one of the most important philosophies of our institution. |