Saturday Academy Volunteer Training

TCC Take Stock in Children Thank you for volunteering to be a Take Stock in Children Saturday Academy volunteer. Your service to our students is valuable to us and we truly appreciate you for it! Margo Thomas Program Director TCC Take Stock in Children

Program Overview TCC Take Stock in Children provides mentorship, college-readiness and scholarships to deserving middle and high school students in Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla Counties. Many of our students will be the first in their families to attend and hopefully complete a college education. Students receive weekly mentoring from caring community members at their schools. Students also participate in our monthly Saturday Academy workshops, which provides, resources to help prepare students for the challenges of attending a college/university. Students who graduate from the program (high school graduation) also receive a 2-year tuition scholarship at TCC to complete an AA, AS or certification.

Saturday Academy Overview The TCC Take Stock in Children program hosts a monthly Saturday Academy each school year. Students from grades 6th -12th participate in a series of college Readiness workshops designed for their grade levels. Each academy is 9:00 am- 12:00 pm. Our volunteer opportunities are from 8:30 am- 12:30 pm.

Volunteers may assist with the following activities each month: Set Up Student sign-in Group Leaders Breakfast, lunch or snack prep & clean up (as needed) Student Dismissal

Set Up 8:30 am - Take Stock staff and volunteers begin setting up for the event. A sign–in table is prepared with the Take Stock poster, sign-in sheets (by county) and pens. Volunteers may assist with retrieving these items from room SU189, also room 189 in the Student Union. Group tags – Students are grouped by grade level. Volunteers help to distribute group tags in different areas of the cafeteria. Students pick up a group tag and sit with the other students in their groups. Each group tag shows grade level and group’s schedule for the day.

Student Sign-In 8:45 am – Student registration begins. As students enter the Student Union, they should immediately go to the sign-in table. (If a student does not sign-in, he/she is considered absent for the day]. A volunteer will assist the staff with ensuring that all students have signed the roster. If a student cannot locate his/her name, the name should be added to the sign-in sheet for the county in which the student attends school. If breakfast is available, students may eat breakfast with their group members.

Group Leaders Volunteers are often assigned to serve as Group Leaders. 9:00 am – After students have located and sat with their groups, the group leader may introduce himself to the students he will be working with for that day. students to clean up their area once they are done with breakfast. 9:15 am – Group leader may instruct students to begin cleaning up their area. 9:20 am - Group leader should begin walking students to their scheduled class for the morning. 9:30 am - Students begin their first class promptly. The Group leader should introduce himself to the instructor when he gets into the classroom and find out how he can assist.

Group Leader cont’d The general requirements of the group leader is to assist with the following: Distributing or collecting worksheets and other materials. Making sure students sign-in for each class. Ensuring that students are doing what they should be doing (students should not be on their cellphones or the computers unless it’s being used for an activity). Instructors may give the volunteer an opportunity to share his/her college experiences with the students. At the end of the class, the group leader moves with students to their next class. After the last class of the day, the group leader and his group moves back to the Student Union for snacks and dismissal.

Snacks & Student Dismissal At the end of the day, students may pick up a snack from the Student Union Cafeteria (if available) on the way to the front of the Student Union for parent pick up. Volunteers may assist Take Stock staff with ensuring that no student is left behind.

Notes to volunteers An effective volunteer is engaging. Some students are not excited to be at classes on a Saturday morning. Please talk with them when you have an opportunity to. Introduce yourself to the group. If time permits, have them introduce themselves as well. Remember to sign the volunteer sign-in sheet when you begin your volunteer assignment. The sign-in sheet will be at the sign-in table, if not please ask staff for it. Remember to have our staff complete and sign your forms at the end of the assignment to receive credit for your time.

Pick up volunteer badge and walkie-talkie for communication during the day. Confirm that your walkie works and keep it low enough to not disrupt class, but high enough so you can hear it. Please walk around the class periodically and pay attention to what students are doing. If student is in phone, you authority to quietly ask he/she to put it away. Be prepared to share your college experience with students (your major, potential career, etc.) We try to purchase enough food for everyone. You are welcome to eat with us.

Sample Volunteer Sign-in Sheet

Volunteer Checklist Once you’ve checked off the following items, you’re ready to volunteer. Fill out volunteer application and submit it to the Take Stock in Children office for processing. Schedule a Level II Background screening/fingerprinting with Ms. Margo as soon as possible. Once we receive an approval, you can begin working with the students. Review the calendar for upcoming Saturday academy events. Show up