1. Granger Elementary Volunteer Handbook Training August 30, 2011

2. Welcome Granger Volunteers Why volunteers are so important to use and why we are grateful to have them: Students and staff value the opportunities to meet, work with and learn from new people.Students and staff value the opportunities to meet, work with and learn from new people. Student safety during unstructured times.Student safety during unstructured times. We could not do what we do effectively without your support.We could not do what we do effectively without your support.

3. Your time and effort is truly appreciated. We want you to feel welcome and valued while you are here. This is our place of business. This is a school. There obviously must be some limits and expectations in place. That is what this handbook is for.

4. Objectives for this handbook Become familiar with procedures followed when coming to help.Become familiar with procedures followed when coming to help. Listen to and follow guidelines for working with staff and students.Listen to and follow guidelines for working with staff and students. Ask questions.Ask questions.

5. Becoming a Volunteer: Contact your child’s teacher.Contact your child’s teacher. Contact Alisha Birch for non classroom volunteers. Alisha.pta@hothail or call 817.501.6476.Contact Alisha Birch for non classroom volunteers. Alisha.pta@hothail or call 817.501.6476.Alisha.pta@hothail Read and sign the volunteer handbook.Read and sign the volunteer handbook. Volunteers MUST submit to a criminal background investigation.Volunteers MUST submit to a criminal background investigation.

6. Volunteer procedures All visitors and volunteers must first report to the office to sign in.All visitors and volunteers must first report to the office to sign in. Report directly to the assigned area of responsibility.Report directly to the assigned area of responsibility. When done, return directly to the office to sign out. After signing out, please exit the building. All volunteers must leave the building at the end of the day. (2:45)When done, return directly to the office to sign out. After signing out, please exit the building. All volunteers must leave the building at the end of the day. (2:45)

7. Guidelines for working with staff and students: Assisting students in and around the room. Follow the lead of the teacher.Follow the lead of the teacher. ReadingReading ComputersComputers Special programs, activities and parties.Special programs, activities and parties. Copying and clerical tasks.Copying and clerical tasks.

8. Guidelines for working with staff and students: Field Trips Supervise smaller groups on pre-planned trips.Supervise smaller groups on pre-planned trips. Short-term discipline until contact with staff.Short-term discipline until contact with staff. Ensure safe and timely departure of students.Ensure safe and timely departure of students. Behavior expectations for both students and parents are the same at school.Behavior expectations for both students and parents are the same at school. Please do not bring other siblings.Please do not bring other siblings.

9. Guidelines for working with staff and students: Other ways you may help- Teacher directed. Only go to the areas of the school that are needed to complete the work for the teachers.Only go to the areas of the school that are needed to complete the work for the teachers. DO NOT GO TO LIBRARY OR OFFICE TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT.DO NOT GO TO LIBRARY OR OFFICE TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT. Do not go to classrooms to stop teachers to discuss concerns, problems, etc.Do not go to classrooms to stop teachers to discuss concerns, problems, etc. Please do not wander the halls.Please do not wander the halls. Do not drop in to offer help unless the teacher says this is okay. All volunteering should be pre-arranged with the teacher.Do not drop in to offer help unless the teacher says this is okay. All volunteering should be pre-arranged with the teacher.

10. *Parent volunteers should make other arrangements for siblings and/other children while volunteering in the classroom. * A positive and friendly attitude must be portrayed at all times. *Projects and parties- If you are volunteering for a room party, please come at the time designated by the teacher. Please DO NOT bring younger children.

11. Guidelines for working with staff and students: Student /Teacher Confidentiality Do not discuss students with anyone other than the child’s teacher or administrators.Do not discuss students with anyone other than the child’s teacher or administrators. Do not discuss individual students outside the school setting.Do not discuss individual students outside the school setting. Maintain the students’ confidence, but report signs of neglect or abuse- we are mandated reporters.Maintain the students’ confidence, but report signs of neglect or abuse- we are mandated reporters. You must protect the teachers’ and students’ right to privacy. You may not disclose school information or personal matters which you may have overheard. Discuss student problems or concerns only with the teacher, staff member with whom you are working or administration.You must protect the teachers’ and students’ right to privacy. You may not disclose school information or personal matters which you may have overheard. Discuss student problems or concerns only with the teacher, staff member with whom you are working or administration.

12. Continued... It is extremely important that you do not talk with other parents about other children in the classroom observed while you were volunteering. Most people do not want anyone saying anything about their child. Please respect student, parent and teacher rights. If anything happens in the classroom,, it is the teacher’ responsibility to contact the parents.It is extremely important that you do not talk with other parents about other children in the classroom observed while you were volunteering. Most people do not want anyone saying anything about their child. Please respect student, parent and teacher rights. If anything happens in the classroom,, it is the teacher’ responsibility to contact the parents.

13. * Concerns about teachers should be brought to administration. Be cognizant of negative “parking lot” conversations. REMEMBER Volunteering to work in the classroom is a privilege-not a right. Violations of confidentiality may cause school authorities to suspend that privilege. Volunteering to work in the classroom is a privilege-not a right. Violations of confidentiality may cause school authorities to suspend that privilege.

14. Guidelines for working with staff and student: No volunteers ever formally assess students. Some inventory/informal information may be collected. Report results directly to the teacher.Some inventory/informal information may be collected. Report results directly to the teacher. Early elementary volunteers may listen to counting, alphabet recitation, shape identification, reading, etc.Early elementary volunteers may listen to counting, alphabet recitation, shape identification, reading, etc.

15. Guidelines for work with staff and students: PROFESSIONALISM Although the job is voluntary, the commitment is professional.Although the job is voluntary, the commitment is professional. Besides being responsible for maintaining an attitude of mutual respect and confidence, you should also become familiar with school and classroom policies and practices.Besides being responsible for maintaining an attitude of mutual respect and confidence, you should also become familiar with school and classroom policies and practices. Working with the teaching staff requires flexibility and a willingness to follow directions.Working with the teaching staff requires flexibility and a willingness to follow directions.

16. Continued... Please dress appropriately for working with children! Low cut blouses or short shorts are not appropriate. Dress code for students is the same for volunteers.Please dress appropriately for working with children! Low cut blouses or short shorts are not appropriate. Dress code for students is the same for volunteers. Cell phones should be off while you are working with children, except of emergencies. If you must take or make a call, please do so outside of the classroom.Cell phones should be off while you are working with children, except of emergencies. If you must take or make a call, please do so outside of the classroom.

17. ANY QUESTIONS????? Call or e-mail your child’s classroom teacherCall or e-mail your child’s classroom teacher E-mail or call Alisha Birch Alisha.pta@hotmailE-mail or call Alisha Birch Alisha.pta@hotmail Alisha.pta@hotmail 817.501.6476 817.501.6476 E-mail or call Linda Ruhs lruhs@nisdtx.orgE-mail or call Linda Ruhs lruhs@nisdtx.org lruhs@nisdtx.org 817.698.1106 817.698.1106

18. We appreciate and thank you in advance for taking the time to work with our students! We hope you enjoy the experience as much as our students enjoy working with you. “ A child’s life is like a piece of paper, upon which everyone leaves their mark.”