Do you volunteer? (Full Version)

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csl7037 -> Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 12:25:58 PM)

I am the Volunteer Coord for the Parent/Teacher organization at my kids' school this year. I'm really trying to think through our processes of recruitment, recognition, utlization of volunteers, etc. I'd love to recruit more of the "unlikely" volunteers - dads! And I'd like to find more ways for some who would like to volunteer but aren't able - working moms or moms with younger children at home, etc. I'd like to pull in any who've felt intimidated or out of the loop in the past for whatever reason.

Do you volunteer at your kids' school? How do you volunteer? What does your school do that you think works well for addressing the issues I'm pondering (above)? What maybe keeps you from volunteering or irritates you about volunteering? What things do you wish someone at your school would address or do differently at your kids' school?

Thanks!



debilyn -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 1:00:53 PM)

At our elementary school, parents are asked to fill out a survey each year with some volunteer choices for the teachers. Those choices include chaperoning field trips, copying papers, pre-cutting craft items, filing, providing snacks, reading to students, etc. There is a place on the form for name, email, phone, times available. At times, they have also asked whether parents would be available for class presentations for career day, etc.

When I was a PTO officer, we polled teachers on which parents were good volunteers or had the potential to be volunteers. They were often able to give us names of parents who wanted to help, but whose jobs kept them from doing things during school hours. We were able to involve some of these in our after-school activities. We usually used a sign-up sheet for our events so that people were only committing for a specific time, which allowed them to spend some time enjoying the event with their kid(s).



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 1:16:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: debilyn

At our elementary school, parents are asked to fill out a survey each year with some volunteer choices for the teachers. Those choices include chaperoning field trips, copying papers, pre-cutting craft items, filing, providing snacks, reading to students, etc. There is a place on the form for name, email, phone, times available. At times, they have also asked whether parents would be available for class presentations for career day, etc.


I'm working on something like this now. In the past, recruiting has really been up to the teachers. I've been told the teacher I hope dd gets this year gets very detailed up front at orientation - down to who's bringing juice boxes to the Christmas party. Ds' teacher last year just recruited me to be HR mom and then left everything up to me. I didn't mind really but that's not exactly fair and, as the coordinator overall this year, not how I want it to happen if I can help it. I know if I make a survey to include classroom thing and also Academy-wide things, some teachers will use it, some wont (and some will add more detail to it). But I can have it for teachers to use and also distribute it separately from the Board. We'll see what happens.

I'd welcome any other suggestions, though. Thanks!



lexie -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 1:25:51 PM)

What are some things that parents can do from home to help out the school? I remember volunteering in a school not too long ago, and the only volunteer opportunities for parents were ones that took place at the school during school hours.

Would any of the working parents be willing to have the class come visit them at work? I know that takes a lot of coordination and effort, but it could be an interesting field trip.

One complaint that I remember hearing from a parent who was volunteering at their child's school was that whenever they went in, the teacher would always have them cutting paper. They said that while they know it's one of those things that needs doing and the teacher doesn't have a lot of time to do, it does get boring for the parent when that's all they've been doing for months. A lot of parents want to be more involved in the actual learning process.

So I agree that a survey of what the parent wants to do would be beneficial.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 2:01:08 PM)

I just do what the teacher tells me to do. Sometimes I cut paper all day long, and sometimes I take a reading group. Sometimes I just walk around the room and help those who need help. To me, it is not really a question as to what you WANT to do, but what NEEDS to be done. I know it can get boring and I have had days where I was bored out of my mind, but I just think of it as this. If the teacher has to do it, then that is less time she spends giving the children the individual attention that they get. I suppose if you were to want more volunteers, rather than ask what they want to do, send out a list of things that you need done and have them respond in that way. Otherwise you are going to get all of the parents who want to do the fun things and nobody is going to want to do the prep work necessary for the teacher to do their job more efficiently.



garsyt -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 5:45:28 PM)

O goodness! I'm a regular volunteer in my kid's school! I'm like Tracy tho. I volunteer with each of my kid's teachers as well as with the music, art, science, PE and other grade levels as well. Basically wherever I'm needed. I have also been the volunteer kindergarten literacy program person for the last two years. The literacy position alone took me at least several hours every week. Basically all the teachers in the building KNEW that if I was in the building and not working on something for someone else that they could grab me and use me. Or they were always free to ask if I was free to help them out another day as well. Even when I had little ones at home I made it clear to the kids' teachers that they could send projects home for me to take care of.

Let's see - I've done coping, laminating, cutting, typing, stapling, gluing, organizing, reorganizing, glittering. I've helped reading groups, played games, put up or taken down bulletin board displays, restocked supply cupboards, helped slower students catch up, and helped advanced students with a challenge! I've volunteered for picture day, book fairs, field trips, field day, fine arts day and for the science fair.

Now there are some things that I don't volunteer for. I don't volunteer for school carnivals, bingo nights, selling scrip, or other things that are primarily fundraisers. I just would rather not do these activities because they seem to bring out those that think everyone can and should be able to spend lots and lots of money on these activities.

I guess my question is exactly what are you looking for? Around here the teacher take care of scheduling and organizing the parent volunteers in their own classroom and the PTO takes care of things like picture day, book fairs, school carnivals and whatever.

Blessings,

Garsy



artemis -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 6:01:26 PM)

In my old school district, the PTA had to be disbanded because there wasn't a single parent volunteer [:o] I teach secondary school, so I don't see many vounteers, but I know we have a mother who does all our laminating once a week and we have a rotation of parents who run a small supply store before school and during lunch were the kids can buy paper, pencils, etc. as well as little trinkets. I'm sure at the elementary schools they have a lot more volunteers.


quote:

ORIGINAL: lexie

Would any of the working parents be willing to have the class come visit them at work? I know that takes a lot of coordination and effort, but it could be an interesting field trip.


My dad is a vet. and he lets classes come to his clinic. He has also gone to the schools and brought a few animals with him. That's always a big hit [:)]



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/5/2008 6:23:05 PM)

The positions that I'm interested in from the PTF perspective are

Class Moms/Parents - need to be sure everyone has one and I'll have a meeting with them all in early September to make sure they're aware of everything that needs to be done and, if they don't have volunteers for everything that they'll either recruit them (if the teacher didn't) or they'll realize it's on them to get those things done (which is not ideal).

Prayer Coordinator - for the class or for the grade-level and to liaison with the Spiritual Growth officer on the Board and help with National Day of Prayer

Spring Jubilee - 2 for each class to coordinate this two-part fundraiser event...can be homeroom mom(s) but ideally someone else will step up

Teacher Appreciation Week - 2 for each class to Liaison with planning committee - again, ideally not just the homeroom moms. It really takes the HR mom, 2 TAW volunteers, and a couple others from each class to pull this week off!

Photography and Yearbook - nice to have in each class but room moms can also just periodically remind parents to forward photos to the Librarian and she can recruit her committee as necessary

Labels Coordinator (Box Tops, Campbell's Soup Labels, etc) - one per class or at least per grade level. This is an area where we've dropped the ball in the past and I really hope to get back on it's feet this year

Classroom helpers can be recruited by the teachers as needed; I'm not too concerned with this but include it in all my info so that it's not completely dropped.

Lunchroom, Media, Music & Art program helpers - there are never enough so, ideally, one or two from each class would help out here tremendously!

Educational Assistance Program Helpers - this is new; parents will be needed to help with tutoring primarily.

So some things are strictly for the classroom, some are classroom jobs that I need to coordinate corporately, and some are academy-wide. So I'm hoping that I can just keep it all somewhat centralized and make a more concerted recruitment effort this year.

I feel like our school has plenty of volunteers and great parent involvement. I fear that we fall into the trap, or can often give the impression, of being clicky or just the same people doing all the work. I want to avoid taxing a few people too much (although I know some truly enjoy it - ME) but I also want to avoid anyone feeling excluded either by a click or by their schedule (like Dads or working moms).

Prayer, Labels, and part of the Spring Jubilee (one of the two vol's needed) can absolutely be done from home so they're great jobs for dads or working moms. I wish there were more jobs like that, though. But those are three very important jobs and prayer and labels have been lacking the last few years; maybe I can push those for dads and working moms this year and get some new blood to pick up the slack there!



Tinkerbell_ -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/6/2008 2:04:11 PM)

I volunteered at the first school my boys attended when I wasn't working. I even started a PTO with a fellow mum that was shortly overrun by the pastor and his wife. So I stopped at that school.

When we moved here I worked until almost 5 about an hour away so I didn't volunteer until spring carnival. When I showed up for my turn to work I was shooed away not so nicely because 'they knew what they were doing and I didn't'.

My mum helps with the individual teachers and when Thing 2 was little volunteered for MOPs (even though she was a GOP, grandmother of a preschooler [8D])



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/6/2008 2:50:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tinkerbell_
When we moved here I worked until almost 5 about an hour away so I didn't volunteer until spring carnival. When I showed up for my turn to work I was shooed away not so nicely because 'they knew what they were doing and I didn't'.


Uuugh!



garsyt -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/6/2008 3:42:36 PM)

Jeepers Tinkerbell! As one of the lead volunteers at my kids' school I am EAGER for others to jump in and help! I've even been known to grab a mom or dad at drop off in the morning and convince them to take a couple of hours time and help out for the science fair! I've been known to take the time to answer the questions of new volunteers instead of just doing it all myself! I love volunteering but I'm not going to be there forever, my kids are getting older and someone else is going to have to take their turn too!

A sure fire way to eliminate your volunteer pool is to shoo them away and tell them you will take care of everything by yourself.

Blessings,

Garsy



Karaboo2 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/6/2008 6:54:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: lexie
What are some things that parents can do from home to help out the school? I remember volunteering in a school not too long ago, and the only volunteer opportunities for parents were ones that took place at the school during school hours.


They can be the ones to organize things like the Save-a-tape program, Box tops for Education etc ... don't even really need to go into the school to explain it to parents. Draft a letter and send it home.

You can also head up something like a phone tree ... if there is an accident/disaster/whatever, you would start phoning parents, fill them in on what has happened and ask that they call Mrs. X Y and Z ...

There are a bunch of other things as well ... you just have to think creatively.



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/6/2008 11:26:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karaboo2

quote:

ORIGINAL: lexie
What are some things that parents can do from home to help out the school? I remember volunteering in a school not too long ago, and the only volunteer opportunities for parents were ones that took place at the school during school hours.


They can be the ones to organize things like the Save-a-tape program, Box tops for Education etc ... don't even really need to go into the school to explain it to parents. Draft a letter and send it home.

You can also head up something like a phone tree ... if there is an accident/disaster/whatever, you would start phoning parents, fill them in on what has happened and ask that they call Mrs. X Y and Z ...

There are a bunch of other things as well ... you just have to think creatively.


We had a dad who headed up the Labels programs (Box Tops etc). Toward the end of last year he kinda dropped the ball. But I have noted everywhere that this would be a great job for dads (the classroom coordinators) as well as the Prayer Coordinators and the big fundraiser basket project - it's to get things donated for each class' basket. Hopefully we'll have some dads as takers or at least give some out-of-the-loop working moms a chance to get involved.

We don't have a phone tree - room moms are asked to handle anything like that. We had a big terrible event at the end of the last school year and that's definitely the worst part of being a room mom.



coolfamily6 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 7:34:38 AM)

CSL, Our charter school has a very active PRA (parent resource association). We have about 15 "coordinators" for different activities. Each coordinator deals with their area by getting volunteers and working with the teacher/administrator in charge. We do not have homeroom moms but grade level representatives (2 for each grade); they each have 4 teachers that they keep in communication with and help fill their needs. I am guessing it is because at middle school level there isn't as much hands on as the younger yrs. Our 6th grade has a Chinese New Yr celebration that would not happen with out the parent help. It is HUGE, last year they had 20 parents helping them.

I am coordinating the 100% Club which is student recognition for good grades and citizenship each quarter and I am going to be on the band booster's board. With two kids in band, I figured I needed to help out there more.

Our school requires each family to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours. I have about 30 since July. I usually get to a point of not even writting the hours down because I have so many.



coolfamily6 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 7:42:02 AM)

Someone above mentioned being "shooed" away when offering to help. I have seen this happen so much in different schools my kids have attended. As voluteer coordinator I think it is important to find something for people who offer help to do. If they are available in the evenings then maybe during openhouse/teacher conferences they can just help direct people where to go, answer questions etc. I think even if you give them on job it will make them feel accepted.

I have seen PTA's where the mom's won't let anyone they do not know help because they do not know what they will do. Will they actually follow through or drop the ball. They err on the side of caution so they miss out on people who would be great help.

This happened to me the first yr at the middle school, then someone found out I had been president of the PTA at our elementary school and then there was "trust". In my opinion that is sad, a full yr wasted because they would not take a risk. The following yr they asked me to be co-president . I said no because I accepted a job at the school.



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 7:44:05 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: coolfamily6
Our school requires each family to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours. I have about 30 since July. I usually get to a point of not even writting the hours down because I have so many.


There's much talk of requiring volunteer hours but we don't have a good way to track it. There would be so many moms like you (and me) - 10 hours would be the first month probably. But it would pull some into the loop. I think getting some of them in there for a minimal time, even if it's to satisfy a requirement, would make them feel much more connected and help them understand better what goes on.

I'd like to just require them, like we do their 2nd graders, to spend five minutes a day reading the junk in the kid's folder. People talk about how much paper goes home. There's a lot of info flying at them. But if they made half an effort to just glance through it when it comes, they'd understand what's going on so much better. And it wouldn't seem like so much paper if it never become a giant pile stuck somewhere unread.

I would, though, like to try to do a "Volunteer of the Year" award. In the past I think it became the same people over and over and it was abandoned. I would like a nomination and voting process of some sort in the Spring. Maybe by grade-level first with someone selected from each grade and then, from those, an overall Volunteer of the Year selected (and Board members would not be eligible). I think I might even want students to have a vote! I want to try that this year.



coolfamily6 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 9:17:47 AM)

We have a book in the front office, that the parents fill out as they work the hours. The volunteer coordinator adds the hours each quarter and they are posted by family name on the school website:


Adams 2.5 hrs
Jones 0 hrs
Smith 15 hrs

Around April the people with 0 really start calling to see what they can do. There is not a penalty but they just don't want a zero next to their name.



garsyt -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 10:51:13 AM)

quote:

Our school requires each family to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours.


I wish our school would require something like this. But alas we have a few parents that feel that their job ends when the kid steps on to the bus and doesn't start again til the kid walks through the door in the afternoon. THANKFULLY we don't have too many that think that way.

For me - 10 hours would be done in a matter of a couple weeks. I don't typically go in unless I can spend at least 3 hours in the building.

Blessings,

Garsy



Tinkerbell_ -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/19/2008 12:24:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: coolfamily6

Someone above mentioned being "shooed" away when offering to help. I have seen this happen so much in different schools my kids have attended. As voluteer coordinator I think it is important to find something for people who offer help to do. If they are available in the evenings then maybe during openhouse/teacher conferences they can just help direct people where to go, answer questions etc. I think even if you give them on job it will make them feel accepted.

I have seen PTA's where the mom's won't let anyone they do not know help because they do not know what they will do. Will they actually follow through or drop the ball. They err on the side of caution so they miss out on people who would be great help.

This happened to me the first yr at the middle school, then someone found out I had been president of the PTA at our elementary school and then there was "trust". In my opinion that is sad, a full yr wasted because they would not take a risk. The following yr they asked me to be co-president . I said no because I accepted a job at the school.

That was me that was shooed away. It was the end of the year carnival and it was pretty much the only time I volunteered.

What's funny is when I showed up they said, "Oh (Thing 1)! I didn't know you had an older sister!" and he was like, "I don't...she's my mum."

My mother was the primary volunteer and since around here most people who leave their children with their parents are deadbeat parents they probably assumed the worst about me. [8|]

Had they asked they would have learned much about me as well and welcomed my assistance. [;)]



MarlaB -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/20/2008 7:06:42 PM)

Hi everyone my name is Marla and I am new to the forums actually just joined today.

I am going to be volunteering at my son's school he is staring a new private christian school, he is going into the 7th grade. I used to work at his public school as a cafeteria monitor and an aide but the new school he is going to be going to had a sheet to fill out on what you would be willing to do and when I pretty much checked off everything except for a few things and told them anytime. He starts school on September 8



csl7037 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/21/2008 6:12:15 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MarlaB

Hi everyone my name is Marla and I am new to the forums actually just joined today.

I am going to be volunteering at my son's school he is staring a new private christian school, he is going into the 7th grade. I used to work at his public school as a cafeteria monitor and an aide but the new school he is going to be going to had a sheet to fill out on what you would be willing to do and when I pretty much checked off everything except for a few things and told them anytime. He starts school on September 8


They're gonna love you!! It's really the best way to get to know a new school, though. Have fun.



MarlaB -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/21/2008 7:03:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: csl7037

quote:

ORIGINAL: MarlaB

Hi everyone my name is Marla and I am new to the forums actually just joined today.

I am going to be volunteering at my son's school he is staring a new private christian school, he is going into the 7th grade. I used to work at his public school as a cafeteria monitor and an aide but the new school he is going to be going to had a sheet to fill out on what you would be willing to do and when I pretty much checked off everything except for a few things and told them anytime. He starts school on September 8


They're gonna love you!! It's really the best way to get to know a new school, though. Have fun.


Thanks, I am nervous and excited at the same time if that makes sense. I wanted to get my son out of the public school system for quite some time alot of different issues and at just the right time a school that has been actually located out of town bought a school building that had recently closed, so I figured this is it.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/21/2008 2:24:15 PM)

I am actually NOT going to volunteer this year. I will do field trips, but because I have kids in three different schools, I really don't know how I will juggle it. But I am going to be teaching Sunday School every other week at church so I will get my volunteering in there.



garsyt -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/21/2008 3:22:14 PM)

I didn't volunteer at the middle school when Ty was there, all that much anyway and I don't think I will do all that much at the high school either. Ty doesn't want me there unless I'm helping with theatre productions and I have and will if I'm asked too.

Ty knows I would rather work with younger kids and he's fine with that! Just so I get him to and from where he has to go he's okay!

Blessings,

Garsy



PrincessDonna -> RE: Do you volunteer? (8/24/2008 10:47:41 PM)

Yes and no. I don't volunteer in the classroom or during the school day. I'd have to find someone to watch the little kids to do that. I do serve on the BOE, which is one meeting a month, two when we also have tuition committee. I also help with the monthly dinner fundraiser, or I did last year anyway...not sure if I'll be able to this year. I am going to start managing the school's website, as soon as someone teaches me how to do it.[:D]



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