VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK
Dear Volunteer:
Welcome to our school. On behalf of all the students and their teachers, I want to thank you for volunteering to help us provide the best possible education for our students. You are an important component in the success of our students. Your presence in the classroom will provide the teacher with valuable help in giving individual and small group assistance. In whatever way you choose to help, whether in the classroom, media center, computer lab, or in other school programs, you can be sure your contribution is needed and valued.
This handbook was prepared to give you assistance in your role as a school volunteer. The role and responsibilities of the school volunteer listed in this handbook will provide you with the guidance for making your volunteer experience an enthusiastic success. Basic techniques and strategies you can use to help children learn are discussed briefly. Naturally, the teacher will always be nearby to provide directions and to answer your questions.
Please feel free to discuss any aspect of the school volunteer program with me or other members of our staff. I am most appreciative of the time and talents you are donating. I know you will experience the joy of working with young children. Your contributions will make a difference in their lives. We hope you will be rewarded by the love and appreciation of the students and staff. Thank you very much for your caring and support.
School Volunteers Make A Difference!
Across the nation, mothers, fathers, grandparents, businessmen and senior citizens – are finding that their involvement as school volunteers is having a positive influence on student achievement. Volunteers are making a difference in schools!
School Volunteer Tips – Remember To Be:
- Honest – in your approach and attitude. It will aid in developing trust.
- Patient – when working with students. Whey they are having difficulty with a subject they do not need additional pressure.
- Flexible – in responding to the needs of students.
- Friendly – with a smile and a thank you, you can accomplish miracles.
- Respectful – treat individuals in the same manner you wish to be treated.
- Confidential – it is very important that what is observed in the classroom remains confidential and student performance or behaviour is not to be discussed with other parents.
School Hours/Bells
First bus arrives |
8:15 |
First bell |
8:50 |
Opening Exercises |
9:00 |
Classes Begin |
9:00 |
Class 2 |
9:30 |
Class 3 |
10:00 |
Recess |
10:30-10:45 |
Class 4 |
10:45 |
Class 5 |
11:15 |
Lunch |
11:45-12:05 |
Lunch Recess |
12:05-12:40 |
Class 6 |
12:45 |
Class 7 |
1:15 |
Class 8 |
1:45 |
Recess |
2:15-2:30 |
Class 9 |
2:30 |
Class 10 |
3:00 |
Dismissal |
3:30 |
What a volunteer does:
- Praise and encourages
- Tells the child good things about himself
- Tries to understand how the child feels
- Commits to regular attendance
- Builds caring and supportive rapport
- Speaks directly to teacher about concerns regarding any student performance
- Is considerate of teacher’s time
- Makes a difference in a child’s life!
Is There anything A Volunteer Shouldn’t Do?
- Discipline students
- Have access to information in students’ cumulative files
- Diagnose student needs or medical conditions
- Evaluate student achievement
- Counsel students
- Discuss student progress and/or behaviour with other parents
Volunteers are not paid…not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
Procedures for Screening Volunteers
Child Abuse Registry Check
All volunteers working in our school or on school-sponsored activities will be required to complete a Child Abuse Registry Check form. This form will be submitted to the Provincial Child Abuse Registry and returned to Lord Selkirk School Division. The completed responses will be kept in the divisional office. Please note that the presence on the Child Abuse Registry will exclude an applicant from placement as a volunteer. The form is available from the school office.
Criminal Records Check
All volunteers who coach a school team, organize an after-school, organize and afterschool club, drive students in their own vehicle, work one-on-one with students, or accompany a group on an overnight trip will be required to complete a Criminal Records Check form. The school division will pay the cost of the fee for the Criminal Records Check when you bring a letter from the Lord Selkirk School Division obtained from the school to the local RCMP office. Applicants must complete forms at the local RCMP office and return them to the school. The school will then forward them to the Board Office to be entered in our database. The disclosure of a criminal record may not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for placement as a volunteer but disclosure of a sexual office will exclude an applicant from placement as a
volunteer.
Pledge of Confidentiality
All volunteers will be required to sign the Pledge of Confidentiality form. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance. Please do not discuss student performance, teachers, school policies, or your own reactions to the school situations with anyone other than staff with whom you are working. If parents, family or friends ask you about your work, tell them you enjoy your work and share information about the activities you perform rather than the specific information about students, teachers, or the school. Please do not discuss the progress of the children, with whom you are working, with their parent. All reporting to parents is the responsibility of the teachers and must not be undertaken by volunteers. As a students’ tutor, you should not become involved with his/her parents. It is the responsibility of the school to tell
parents when a student is receiving tutorial aid. If a parent does contact you, simply refer the parents to the child’s teachers.
We make a living by what we do,
But we make a life by what we give
Winston Churchill
Tips For Volunteer
- Complete the volunteer registration form
- Submit a Child Abuse Registry Check and Criminal Records Check
- You may use the staff washrooms, coatroom and staff room.
- Coffee is free to our volunteers. Please use the guest mugs and return your cleaned mug to the cupboard.
- Ask questions! No question is inappropriate if you don’t know the answer.
- If you are unhappy or having difficulties with the assignment, please tell us!
- If you are happy about your volunteer assignment, please tell us and tell others.
- Our school is a “no smoking” building. Volunteers are reminded that this includes school grounds and applies to all volunteers who are participating in school activities such as field trips, sports day, etc.
- Be aware and ask about our school procedures regarding life-threatening allergies (nuts, peanuts, fish, raw eggs)
- Personal belongings should be kept with you or housed in a locked area.
- When working with small groups or an individual student, arrive early enough to receive direction and instruction
- Consult our school calendar regarding monthly activities and closures.
- Parking is available on Calder Road, parallel with the school
- When dealing with blood or other bodily fluids, please wear gloves available in the office, send someone for a staff member, attend to the injury/spill and wash hands before and after removing gloves.
- Please familiarize yourself with our emergency procedures. If a fire alarm sounds while you are working with a student away from his/her usual setting, take the student to the closest exit. Once outside take the child to join his/her classmates and teacher.
Volunteers don’t have tome to spare they have heart to spare!
Effective Ways To Work With Children
- Be warm and friendly-learn the children’s names and show interest in what they are doing and telling you – you are very important as a listener.
- When working with children, encourage them to do their own thinking – give them plenty of time to answer. Silence often means they are thinking and organizing what they want to say or write.
- Maintain a sense of humor.
- Be consistent with the school and classroom rules for behaviour, schedule and atmosphere. Become familiar with the school discipline policy and observe all the rules and routines of the school.
- If a child should disclose information regarding any form of abuse, you are required by law to report this information to the authorities. The steps to follow in our school are:
Re-assure the child and tell them you will have to tell someone (principal) about this.
Inform the principal about the disclosure and he/she will assist you in handling the situation.
Do not discuss this information except on a need-to-know basis.
- Be aware that discipline is the responsibility of our professional staff and not volunteers. Volunteers work under the supervision of teachers. Disciplining students is not the role of volunteers. If a student’s behaviour is inappropriate and a request to change does not bring about the desired result, please seek the assistance of the teacher. Volunteers must not touch or intervene in any other physical manner to stop inappropriate behaviour. Physical intervention would only be permitted to prevent an assault or to separate the participants in an altercation.
- If your child is attending our school, do not use recess or break times to conference with teachers about your child.
- Wear comfortable clothes and don’t hesitate to “get down to a child’s level”.
- Our children and teachers are looking forward to your coming. If you know you will be away, please tell them in advance.
- Volunteers are many things: an extra pair of hands, an extra measure of personal warmth, a valuable special resource for classroom enrichment, a bridge between the instructional program and the community. We cannot buy what volunteers give to our school!
Volunteering warms the essence of the soul
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