Ensuring Confidentiality in High Meadows School Volunteering

High Meadows School Volunteering and Confidentiality

Agenda Volunteering Confidentiality Interacting with Students Volunteering Guidelines Suspected Child Abuse School Procedures When on Campus Emergency Procedures Volunteer Paperwork

Why Volunteer? Volunteering provides an opportunity to see our school philosophy and mission in practice. Volunteering models for children their parents interest and involvement in their education and their school community. Volunteering greatly helps our teachers provide the best possible learning environment for children. Volunteering helps parents become a part of our school community.

Volunteer Opportunities In the classroom In the library Pony rides and animal care Gardening Home projects for teachers or SHARE SHARE Events (Secret Shop, Staff Appreciation, etc.) School Events (Open House, Earth Day, etc.)

Volunteering in the Classroom Teachers work with Room Parents to set up volunteering times that work best for their particular class schedule. Opportunities for classroom help include cooking, gardening, library and pony rides. Fewer volunteer are needed in the classrooms of older students, but campus-wide opportunities are plentiful.

How do I volunteer? SHARE (our parent organization) meets bi-monthly in the Library, usually on Mondays. SHARE offers a variety of campus-wide volunteer opportunities. Room Parents provide information about volunteering in the classroom and often schedule class volunteers. The Tire Swing and The Meadow Messenger (our digital newsletters) often contain requests for volunteers. Complete volunteer forms found at www.my.highmeadows.org/cp/.

Volunteer Agreements Honor and respect the right of privacy of every High Meadows student and parent. Understand that any private information concerning student work, student behavior, student records and/or student medical information is considered privileged and SHOULD NEVER BE DISCUSSED outside the classroom. Keep all such information confidential.

Confidentiality Educational ethics warrant that confidentiality of information and families and children s rights to privacy be protected. As a volunteer you are expected to uphold those principles. Volunteering privileges may be lost if confidentiality is broken.

Confidentiality Reminders Please do not discuss any child in front of other children or with other parents. Be particularly careful if you are a parent with some type of expertise (speech therapist, psychologist, teacher, etc.).

Interacting With Students Use a quiet voice with children. Be sure your sense of humor is one they can understand, without teasing or sarcasm. Be aware of children s questions as an opportunity to encourage problem solving and to develop their competence in using resources and peers. Instead of giving a quick, closed answer, provide options to help children think through the solution.

Positive Reinforcement Use positive, specific reinforcement that highlights the students appropriate behaviors, accomplishments, and work. When group sessions are underway, please join and listen. Model a courteous, attentive attitude. Separate conversations are distracting and should take place outside the classroom.

Positive Discipline Let teachers handle any discipline problems that may arise. Become familiar with the strategies teachers use, and turn to them if help is needed.

Volunteer Guidelines Leave younger siblings at home Volunteering with our students is most successful when you come alone, without other children. Please plan to give the students your undivided attention and leave younger siblings with another caregiver.

Volunteer Guidelines Please turn cell phones off and use them only outside of the classroom Cellphone use while driving on campus is prohibited

Volunteer Guidelines Please be on time Be prompt and email the teacher or room parent if you will not be able to be in class as expected. If you arrive early, please wait quietly and observe the classroom. Arrive and depart at the prearranged times.

Volunteer Guidelines Volunteering is not a time to confer with teachers about your child Confer with teachers about your own child OUTSIDE of volunteer duties by scheduling an appointment so that discussions can occur with a sense of confidentiality and purpose.

Volunteer Guidelines Address any questions or concerns that arise while volunteering with teachers Make an appointment with the teachers when they can address your concerns outside the classroom.

Volunteer Guidelines Respect teachers and their classrooms Support teachers in their role of selecting classroom practices and experiences. Recognize that teachers are ultimately responsible for the overall well-being of the group.

Volunteer Guidelines Be sure that when you are volunteering in the classroom that your focus includes all children in the room Although you may work with your own child, the teachers are counting on you to work with everyone.

Volunteer Guidelines Please discuss specific inappropriate student behaviors with the teacher as soon as possible This is particularly important for parent volunteers who accompany classes on field trips.

Volunteering with Young Children There are times when young children struggle when their parents are in the classroom. Behavior such as clinging or crying can be disruptive and can cause distress in other children. Realize that sometimes parents may need to choose other volunteer opportunities until the child is comfortable enough to make it a positive experience for everyone.

A Note on Allergies Many children at High Meadows have allergies to peanuts, as well as other foods. For the safety of our students, it is our policy that children and adults do not share their food with others.

Reporting Suspected Child Abuse Georgia law requires child service organization personnel to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Child service organization personnel means persons employed by or volunteering at a business or an organization, whether public, private, for profit, not for profit, or voluntary. Any suspected case of child abuse or neglect should be reported to the Associate Head of School or the School Counselors.

Child Abuse Resources To learn more about recognizing and reporting child abuse, go to https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum- Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and- Instruction/Documents/Child%20Abuse%20Preventio n%20Handouts.pdf Click on the following link for a free online training course: https://www.prosolutionstraining.com/store/product/?t ProductVersion_id=861

School Procedures When On Campus Every time you are on campus, please sign in at the Main Office where you will receive a photo ID visitor/volunteer nametag. For larger group events (like theatre productions or Earth Day) where checking in at the office would be impractical, you may wear your High Meadows lanyard. The teacher or room parent can answer questions about this if you are unsure.

Emergency Procedures In the event of a drill or emergency, the intercom system will sound an alarm tone. Steady Tone Go inside (Weather, Intruder) 2ndSteady Tone Proceed to designated sheltered area with class (Severe Weather) Fluctuating Tone Go outside to designated meadow area (Fire, Bomb Threat) 2ndFluctuating Tone Go to far edge of meadows. This will be followed by an intercom announcement.

Emergency Procedures Parents/visitors or volunteers on campus during an emergency should stay with their class/group and follow the directions of staff members. Parents/visitors should not use their cell phones in these situations.

Emergency Procedures Rest assured that each staff member has been briefed regarding emergency procedures, and each classroom/staff member has a red emergency plan binder in their possession. These binders include all emergency and contact information.

Volunteer Paperwork Requirement Volunteer Paperwork can be found at my.highmeadows.com/cp/. After completing and signing, please return to Lee Hunter at the Main Office. Please be sure to print your name and your child/children s class(es) on the Confidentiality Agreement and sign it. Please complete and sign the Background Check Consent if we did not get one from you last year or the year before. (A Background Check is required once every 3 years). Please complete and sign the Waiver and Release of Liability. All paperwork is confidential and held by the HR Department in a locked cabinet.

Thank you! Thank you for your time and your commitment to becoming a volunteer! If you have further questions, please contact Consuela Harris at charris@highmeadows.org; your teachers/room parents; or any Administrator. Have a wonderful day and HAPPY VOLUNTEERING!