BELOIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  

VOLUNTEERS HANDBOOK

2007- 2008

Welcome to the Beloit Elementary School Volunteers Program.  Thank you for your interest in this endeavor to help our students.  The school community takes great pride in the achievements made in education and our wish is to see this continue.  This handbook is to provide you with some ideas on how you can help.

SCHOOL POLICY

All volunteers are under the supervision of the school principal and are immediately responsible to the staff member with whom the volunteer is assigned.

If a volunteer has a question about school policies or procedures, it should be discussed with the appropriate school personnel and not outside the school.  Volunteers should feel free to discuss concerns with the immediate staff, principal or volunteer coordinator.

Placement of volunteers shall be by mutual agreement between the appropriate school staff and volunteer.  Volunteers are matched with a teacher after the volunteer coordinator ascertains the classroom needs.

We hope this will be a pleasant and rewarding experience.  If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact the volunteer coordinator.   We feel the success of this program will require open communication between school staff and volunteers.

GUIDELINES FOR VOLUNTEERS

School volunteers are caring, committed people who assist in the education of our children.  Volunteers come in all ages, from all walks of life.  No specific educational background or training is needed.

General Rules

*Sign in at the vacant second grade classroom upon entering and leaving the school when volunteering.

*Wear the volunteer nametag provided at all times while helping.

*Record hours on the Volunteer Time Sheet located in the second grade classroom.

*Keep volunteer appointments and be prompt.

*If a volunteer appointment cannot be kept, the proper person should be notified as far in advance as possible

or a replacement should be found.

*A volunteer’s work is confidential.  Students should not be discussed with anyone except the appropriate school personnel.

Working Together

This partnership with the Beloit Elementary School staff and the volunteer is a crucial factor in the success of this program.  The staff and volunteer must feel comfortable with each other.  Mutual trust, respect, and open communication among these adults will benefit the child and our school.

BES Staff Responsibilities: 

1.          Take time to get to know you and make you feel welcome.

2.          Draw on your strengths and interests in assigning specific tasks.

3.          Prepare the children for your arrival by building a positive attitude toward your contribution.

4.         Create a system of communicating with you, which does not take up valuable class time or additional time from you.

5.         Allow you to suggest ideas, which may improve your effectiveness in accomplishing the tasks assigned.

6.          Understand that life, at times, is unpredictable and volunteers may be unavailable.

Volunteer’s Responsibilities:

 1.         Make sure you know when you are scheduled.  Do not drop in unannounced to help a teacher. 

             It takes time to plan for volunteers and to ensure that their time is not wasted.

2.          Respect the teacher’s wishes and accept suggestions willingly.

3.          Take time to familiarize yourself with school policies and procedures.

4.          Ask questions and seek advice when in doubt.

5.          Learn where things are kept and keep them there when not in use.

6.          Clear new ideas ahead of time with the teacher because surprises are neither helpful nor appreciated.

7.          Talk to the teacher about the children at appropriate times (not in front of the children, their parents,

             or other adults).  Do not interrupt someone who is teaching.  It is easy to lose momentum of an

             activity when students are distracted or forced to wait while adults carry on a conversation.

8.          Avoid making comparisons between children and never belittle them.

9.          Respect confidentiality at all times.

10.        Display friendliness, patience and flexibility.

11.        Leave discipline matters to the teacher.  The teacher is responsible for maintaining classroom order, even when other adults are working with students in the room.   If you have a discipline problem with a student that cannot be resolved by gentle prompting and a few positive words, speak with the teacher.

12.        Have fun!   Enjoy your interactions with students and staff.

Please know how much the Beloit Elementary School staff, Site Council, and students appreciate your taking part in our volunteer program.  Thank you for your contribution.