VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK Dear Families, This handbook outlines our school-wide protocol for earning volunteer hours. We THANK YOU, in advance, for your time and talent. You enrich our community by being part of all that we do and we are most grateful! V olunteers don't just do the work ~ they make it work. ~ Carol Pettit PHILOSOPHY Community is at the heart of Christian Education not simply as a concept to be taught, but as a reality to be lived. The experience of community leads naturally to service. God gives people different gifts, not only for themselves, but to share with others. 1
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION As part of the St. Patrick Tuition Agreement, each family agrees to contribute time, talent, and treasure to support St. Patrick School and its educational programs. Each family is expected to complete a minimum of 30 hours per school year. Exception for single parent families: In instances where only one adult in the household is active in the child s school life, this requirement is reduced to 15 hours of service for the year Each family s commitment may be met by volunteer hours provided by a parent, guardian, grandparent, or any other relative who is over 18 years of age, has been fingerprinted, and completed the Shield the Vulnerable online training Hours not submitted to the school office within 30 days of an event shall be forfeited Hours must be performed in service to St. Patrick School and/or Parish only Extra service hours cannot be carried over to the following year or transferred to another family For convenience, log in no more than 30 hours, even if you have completed more Hours for the 2015-2016 school year can be logged from August 1, 2015 to May 30 th, 2016 If a family fails to complete the required service hours the family will be billed the Non-Participatory rate of tuition, which is an additional $1,500 Families may opt out of their volunteer commitment by paying the Non- Participatory Fee of $1,500 PLEASE NOTE: HOURS TO BE APPROVED: Volunteer hours can be logged in online by individual family members. The Event Chair will approve the hours so they can be credited to each family as is appropriate. 2
GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS Parent volunteer hours must be entered by each family. An Event Chair will approve the submitted hours, before hours are finalized and credited to each family. Hours not turned in within 30 days of the event will be forfeited (Please keep a copy for your records). Hours may not be donated from one family to another. Actual time worked is the amount that may be recorded. PLEASE, record all hours worked. 1 HOUR CLASS PARTY/PICNIC * ½ HOUR RECORD HOURS MORNING VALET DUTY** DRIVING ON FIELD TRIPS (Record time to & from the destination - Room Parent to approve. A maximum of 9 hours may be credited for driving on field trips.) 8 HOURS/DAY OUTDOOR EDUCATION TRIPS If you participate as a chaperone on an outdoor education trip you may not receive credit for other field trips. You may still drive/chaperone if you wish. *FYI: Hours are allowable only for those responsible for the class party or class event. Hours are not earned for bringing food, party supplies, or attendance at a party/event Hours worked on Auction parties may not be submitted as volunteer hours as these hours are considered part of an auction donation **FYI: Younger children may never accompany parents on Morning Valet Duty (or on field trips) PLEASE NOTE: Parents can earn hours by volunteering for Parish events/activities or by being an official CYO team Coach or Assistant Coach ONLY Families may not earn hours from children who are altar servers or for children who volunteer in any other capacity All student information is confidential. A volunteer operates in a position of trust. We thank you for not discussing any personal information pertaining to students outside the classroom 3
CLASS PARTICIPATION ASSIGNED EVENTS Each class will be responsible for ensuring that the following events are planned and fully staffed. OBLIGATORY CLASS ASSIGNMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS Class School Assignment Class Assignment Kindergarten Hoe Down Set-up/Clean up Pentecost Celebration 1st Grade Walk-a-thon Grandparent s Day 2nd Grade Hoe Down Set-up/Clean-up First Holy Communion Retreat 3rd Grade Christ the King Breakfast (with Parish) 1st Communion Breakfast (with CFF) 4th Grade Walk-a-thon Grandparent s Day 5th Grade 6th Grade Auction Auction 7 th Grade Back-to-School Dinner 8 th Grade Receptions Pizza Helpers 8th Grade Back-to-School Dinner Pizza Helper PARTICIPATION RESPONSIBILITY If you sign up for an event and you cannot fulfill your obligation you are responsible for recruiting a replacement and informing the Chair of the event. EVENT CHAIR Any individual who volunteers to Chair an event will automatically receive 30 hours of volunteer service. 4
FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN HOURS: Read the St. Pat s Weekly Bulletin or check out Parent Booker for the PARENT VOLUNTEER INFO that will announce upcoming events/tasks with immediate needs. Hoe Down (October ) Grandparents Day (November ) Children s Christmas Store (December ) Bingo Extravaganza (January ) Annual Auction (February 27 th ) Walk-A-Thon (May ) Golf Tournament (May) Pentecost Celebration (May ) Various PTG Fun-raisers Valet Duty A parent can volunteer to serve on a regular day throughout the year. Volunteer hours can be earned for service hours contributed to other designated school events that are not listed here. REPORTING VOLUNTEER HOURS Individual events can be logged online and the chairperson or room parent will approve the logged in hours The PTG Volunteer Coordinator will monitor the online hours This process ensures us that all volunteers will have their hours signed off immediately following an event/school activity and that the hours are logged-in and updated in a timely fashion 5