Volunteering at Saint Mary School
Overview
St. Mary School appreciates and is very proud of its parent and parish/community volunteers. Volunteering is not only vital to the smooth operation of everyday school life, it is an important connection between home, school, parish, and community. Any adult responsible for the care, custody or control of students in any school or school sponsored activity in the Diocese of Columbus must submit to a criminal background check and have clear BCI and FBI reports (paid staff) and attend a “Protecting God’s Children” session as prescribed by the Diocese of Columbus prior to their involvement. Additional information and registration for the session may be found online at www.virtus.org .
Service Hour Requirement
Each family is required to volunteer 10 total hours during the academic year. These hours can include volunteer work related to Home and School events, athletic events, school fundraisers, cafeteria assistance, playground supervision, parish life (excluding liturgical ministries), and much more! Any family member who is 18 years or older may contribute to your family’s ten-hour requirement. For every hour that is not worked, you will be charged $10.00 at the close of the academic year. We hope that we don’t have to collect any money though because we would much rather have your involvement and participation! Studies have shown that students whose parents are involved in their school are more likely to succeed, so we hope that this program will yield many positive fruits! Please keep in mind that in order to volunteer, you must complete the Protecting God’s Children course and have a current BCI fingerprint record on file.
Opportunities
Below are some of the many areas and volunteer positions at Saint Mary School:
- Athletics (coaching, concessions, etc.)
- Cafeteria Classroom
- Clinic Substitute/RN
- Computer Room
- Field Day
- Graduation
- Dance
- Holiday Happening
- Library
- Lunchroom Monitor
- Mother/Son Event
- Planning Open House for New Families
- Recess Duty
- Room Parent
- School Directory Coordinator
- SCRIP Gift Certificate Program
- Spring Musical
- Saint Joseph Dance (Father/Daughter)
- Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Coordinator
- Tutoring/Enrichment
- Uniform Exchange
- Volunteer Coordinator
For more information about these opportunities, please email: info@saintmarylancaster.org
Volunteer Code of Conduct
Our children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us. A volunteer is expected to strictly follow the rules and guidelines in the Volunteer Code of Conduct as a condition of providing services to the children and youth of our school. As a volunteer, I will:
- Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity, and consideration.
- Avoid situations where I am alone with children and/or youth at school activities.
- Use positive reinforcement rather than criticism, competition, or comparison when working with children and /or youth.
- Refuse to accept expensive gifts from children and/or youth or their parents without prior written approval from the Pastor or administrator.
- Refrain from giving expensive gifts to children and/or youth without prior written approval from the parents or guardian and the Pastor or administrator.
- Report suspected abuse to the Pastor, administrator, or appropriate supervisor and the local Child Protective Services agency. I understand that failure to report suspected abuse to civil authorities is, according to the law, a misdemeanor.
As a volunteer, I will not:
- Smoke or use tobacco products in the presence of children and/or youth.
- Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while volunteering.
- Use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.
- Pose any health risk to children and/or youth (i.e. no fevers or other contagious situations).
- Strike, spank, shake, or slap children and/or youth.
- Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children and/or youth.
- Touch a child and/or youth in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.
- Use any discipline that frightens or humiliates children and/or youth.
- Use profanity in the presence of children and/or youth.
A volunteer working with children and/or youth is subject to a thorough background check, including criminal history. Any action inconsistent with the Volunteer Code of Conduct may result in a person being removed as a volunteer with children and/or youth at our school.