JHB thank You So Much!! This is a great start, I had put together about four pages of notes but your sharing has brought more to my attention!! I have three weeks to get a rough draft to present to my principal. In the log run the district is hoping to use our guidelines/program as a district wide example...this will help alot!!
Here's some text that may help. I apologize that I can't offer proper credit as two very simlar versions were shared with me long ago (and I no longer remember by whom). We don't use this exact list, but it has some good starting points.
General Volunteer Guidelines
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Follow and support the policies and rules of the school.</font>
Respect and maintain the confidentiality of matters that occur within the school.</font>
Questions and/or concerns regarding students, policy, or practice should follow the chain of command, beginning at the lowest level. Teacher, Principal, Director of Elementary Education, Superintendent, School Board.</font>
Expect children to treat you with respect. Students who are disrespectful or disobey a school rule should be reported to the person in charge, whether it be the teacher or principal.</font>
Attend strictly to the duties for which you have volunteered and the area to which you are assigned. Do not use this time to monitor your child's class or inquire about his/her progress.</font>
Only volunteers with a current background clearance are permitted to work with children on a one-to-one basis.</font>
Volunteers should use a workspace other than the faculty room. Teachers use the faculty room to plan, discuss confidential matters and reenergize.</font>
Your own children are not to accompany you while you volunteer. Should there be a special circumstance, permission from the building principal is required.</font>
Dress and grooming should be suitable for the public school setting.</font>
If you are unable to attend a scheduled day, contact the school so those involved won't worry about you. It will also allow time to develop an alternative strategy.</font>
Volunteers, who are unable or unwilling to follow these guidelines and those additional guidelines that may be established for a particular building or classroom, will be asked to discontinue their volunteer service.</font>
Working Successfully with Children
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Speak in a quiet, calm manner. Children tend to copy the style of the adult leader.</font>
Use a positive approach to motivate, redirect, etc.</font>
Negative actions tend to result in more negative behavior.</font>
Children who refuse to cooperate should be referred to the professional in charge.</font>
While in school, ask the children to refer to you as Mr., Mrs., Miss. This will help eliminate confusion for most children.</font>
Refrain from asking children questions about their home life. However, should a child tell you something that may need follow-up, inform the professional in charge at a time when there is privacy.</font>
Be an appropriate role model at all times.</font>
Children should not be given items to eat/drink, unless it is directed by the professional in charge.</font>
Volunteer Code of Ethics
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As a volunteer, I realize that I am subject to a code of ethics similar to that which binds the professionals in the field in which I work. Like them, I assume certain responsibilities and expect to account for what I do in terms of what I am expected to do. I will keep confidential matters confidential. I interpret "volunteer" to mean that I have agreed to work without compensation in money or favor.</font>
I promise to take to my work an attitude of open-mindedness; to be willing to be trained for it; to bring to it interest and attention. I realize that I may have assets that my co-workers may not have and that I should use these to enrich the students for whom we are working together. I realize also that I may lack assets that my co-workers have, but I will not let this make me feel inadequate, but will endeavor to assist in developing good teamwork.</font>
I plan to find out how I can best serve the students and to offer as much as I am sure I can give, but no more. I realize that I must live up to any promises and, therefore, will be careful that my agreement is so simple and clear that I cannot be misunderstood.</font>
I believe that my attitude should be professional. I believe that I have an obligation to my work, to those who direct it, to my colleagues, to those for whom it is done and to the public.</font>
Being eager to contribute all that I can to the betterment of all children, I accept this code for volunteers as my code to be followed.</font>
This is a must in our district. Our current principal feels strongly about it. We are a small rural town. Mayberry has nothing on us! As a sub aide we have this, in the past (and future) as vol. cooridinator I had someone with experience to talk about it. Staff gets it every year whether they have been there 2 years or twenty. We sign a paper saying that we understand what was said and that we will keep confidentiality. I am in the process of working on our handbook for our school. I am sure I will add this in there because I don't think it's something that can be stressed enough. We are also required to have background checks.
Hi pals, I think a confidentiality agreement would be nice. I definitely oppose background checks or fingerprinting of volunteers especially since they should never be alone with children and money handling guidelines like two signatures and joint money handling should be in place anyway. I wouldn't want to alienate any volunteers. But volunteers may be privy to things such as families that are struggling financially or getting assistance. These kinds of sensitive information can be hurtful and although confidentiality is implied, better to have it in writing to make it perfectly clear.
Hi Guys.. i know this was touched on lightly before but i can't seem to find the post. I am in the process of working with our district's second in command and our principal about a NEW volunteer program. This program will track volunteer hours, recognize volunteers, volunteer orientation and guidelines, new opportunities , etc. I was allowed to survey our staff and was thrilled with the answers I received, the one thing I noticed was that the majority of the surveys addressed Confidentality as a major issue that needs to be address in the guidelines. I mentioned this to a few key volunteers and had them response that maybe it should be a requirement that all school volunteers sign an agreement that they understand confidentality. I am just wondering how many of your schools do something like this. For the record we do not requirement background checks.I know this progarm can be a great tool and just want to do it right....
