Volunteer

FHSD employees who wish to volunteer will need to complete the Volunteer Google Application each year each year on the District website. All FHSD employees have previously been fingerprinted and background checked prior to employment with the District.

The fingerprint report is retained with the FBI’s NGI system for continuous comparison and status reporting through MACHS to the District HR department, until such time as the employee no longer has active employment with FHSD. A District employee’s volunteer status will be listed within Infinite Campus showing only in the field Volunteer Status Expires: (HR-Video). FHSD employees are also required to view the mandatory training videos annually as a part of their employment. 

• Support and supplement the instructional program of the classroom teacher. The volunteer’s role is assistance, not replacement. 
• Respect the privacy of teachers and students by not discussing school matters away from the classroom. 
• Commit to work in a classroom to support and improve education for all students. 
• Know and observe all regulations and procedures in the assigned school (e.g. fire drills, accident reporting, etc.)
• Accept each student and encourage the best from them. 
• Show a genuine interest in each student.
• Be prompt, reliable, flexible and regular in attendance. 
• Seek help from the teacher or another school employee when you need additional information or instruction. 
• Discuss problems that arise with the teacher, school administrator or building Parent Involvement Leader.
• Remember that you are a role model for students, not only in how you interact with others at school, but who you are as a person.
• Keep all student information confidential.
• Always do what is in the best interest of each student.
• Wear appropriate attire.
• Share concerns with the school staff only.
• Understand that each student is unique and cannot be compared to another.
• Learn from the different teaching methods used by the staff.
• Do not use school equipment for personal purposes.
• Show respect for all staff and students.
• Refrain from sharing personal religious or political beliefs.
• Do not smoke on school grounds.
• Do not use illegal drugs or alcohol on school grounds while volunteering, or Volunteer while under the influence. 
• Understand that weapons and drugs are not allowed on school grounds.

• Encourage and support student success. Build self-confidence by praising them honestly and frequently. Attentiveness and effort can be as important as performance. Accentuate the positive and minimize the negative.
• Names are important. Make sure you say the student’s name and the way a student wants it to be said. Learn to spell it correctly. Make sure the student knows your name and can pronounce it correctly.
• Be trustworthy and honest in your approach and attitude.
• Avoid making comparisons between students, between teachers, and between schools.
• Always remember to be fair and consistent.
• Students make mistakes. Let them know that making mistakes is part of learning.
• Show that you are interested in the student as a person by listening carefully to what they say and showing you care by words and actions.

Available volunteer opportunities at most of our schools:

Instructional Volunteers - provide direct services to five or fewer students on a regular basis.

Tutors - work one-on-one with a student or with small groups of students, who need to reinforce basic skills in an academic subject. Placements are made with students from prekindergarten through high school. Training to tutor a specific subject and training on working with students will be provided by the District.

Mentors - typically work with a struggling student. Their major task is to motivate the student to stay focused on school. Through tutoring, setting short-term goals and serving as a role model, volunteers can provide encouragement and guidance to a student needing to build self-esteem. Mentor training will be provided by the school district.

English Language Learners (ELL) Tutors - ELL tutors help English language learners to increase their skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing English. Volunteers do not need to speak the students’ native language(s). Volunteers who speak languages other than English may also work with nonEnglish-speaking adults to explain school information or provide interpretation.

Support Service Volunteers - provide assistance to school personnel frequently or on a regular basis.

Classroom Assistants -  work closely with classroom teachers and staff, assisting in various projects, keeping records, preparing instructional materials and interacting with students. Duties in elementary schools may include telling stories, reading with students and preparing bulletin boards. Duties in middle and high schools may include working on special projects, operating audiovisual equipment, performing clerical duties, making instructional materials, reviewing homework and helping during testing times.

Office/Clerical Assistants - help staff members at a school and the administration building. Duties may include typing, computer entry, copying, bookkeeping, record keeping, telephone communication as well as other office work.

Library Media Center Assistants - Volunteers in the library media center help fill teacher and student requests for services. They may work at the circulation desk, catalogue and shelve books, use a computer, mend books and operate audiovisual equipment.

Chaperones - Volunteer chaperones have the opportunity to enjoy museums, exhibits, musicals, and plays as they accompany students and teachers on field trips. Trips may involve free transportation on a bus and occasionally free admission tickets.

Great by 8 -  The Great by 8 program is designed to increase and improve student reading proficiency by age eight. A key component of the program is driven by community volunteers. Volunteers are asked to dedicate one hour a week (during school hours) to tutor students in a one-on-one small group setting, to increase students’ proficiency and mastery of targeted skill sets. Volunteers will help students with sight words, letter recognition, sounds, handwriting, and assist with students’ individual needs. For early intervention to be successful, volunteers are asked to work with kids on a consistent and frequent basis, be available once a week for approximately 15–20 minutes, connect with students and develop trusting relationships, have an approved FHSD volunteer status, and complete the Great by 8 training.

Mentors4College - FHSD partners with Mentors4College, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to high school students during their college search. If you’ve been to college, participated in an apprenticeship program and/or helped someone with these, then you would make a great mentor to our students. Training is provided through Mentors4College.

Special Olympics – Support the Special Olympics and make a difference for our athletes by volunteering to be a coach, friend, sponsor, or volunteer. Keep up to date on Special Olympics news and events and contact Eddie Mulholland for more information.

Mobile Market - FHSD, in partnership with Sodexo and St. Louis Area Foodbank, offers nutritious produce and perishable items for families in need through the Mobile Market program. Volunteers are needed to bag food and distribute to families every month. Distribution will be at the FHSD Burbes Building. 

Contact your child's school for information on specific volunteer opportunities!