Words of Wisdom One hundred years from now

Words of Wisdom One hundred years from now it will not matter: What kind of car I drove What kind of house I lived in, How much money I had in my bank account Nor what my clothes looked like But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child.

Volunteering at Oakdale Elementary “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ” – Margaret Mead

Advantages of a Volunteer Program • Parents in school send a message that people in our community care about and are interested in what happens in school. • Enhances a child’s self-esteem. • Improves children’s academic achievement. • Provides support to the many teachers and staff who work with your child each day.

Advantages of a Volunteer Program • Improves parent-child relationships. • Helps parents promote positive attitudes towards school and a better understanding of the schooling process.

What is volunteer time? • • • Helping the teacher in the classroom Thursday Folders Field trips Recess help and lunch duty Volunteering during a class party Helping with any PTA activity or event Copying necessary papers and work for student use Babysitting for someone else who is volunteering Assisting a specials teacher with special programs and projects • Reading to students • Running Club • “Home” work – cutting out shapes, stapling, etc.

Volunteer Guidelines and Procedures • Please sign in at the office in the visitor log. • Wear “Visitor” sticker or name badge lanyard at all times while at school. (these are available in the workroom) • You may leave your personal belongings in the Parent Volunteer/Work Room. • Please keep information confidential. See an administrator about issues that come to your attention. • Please do not discuss teachers or students in the public workroom.

Volunteer Guidelines and Procedures • Openly communicate with your child’s teacher or any staff member about questions and concerns as they arise • When finished volunteering, please remember to sign out in the office visitor log. (This is how we keep track of who is in the building during an emergency. ) • Please keep track of your hours when completing volunteer tasks either at home or school. (Log sheets are available in a wall bin that is hung on the right side of the workroom as you walk in. ) • At the end of the year, submit total hours volunteered to the Volunteer Coordinator (emails will be sent out requesting your hours. )

Policies and Safety Precautions when volunteering

Policies and Safety Precautions Duty of a volunteer: • Exercise good common sense • All school rules must be followed at all times. • Confidentiality is essential – All knowledge about students or the school MUST be treated as confidential. • Maintain good behavior management whenever working with students. • Volunteer report directly to a staff or faculty member, not another volunteer.

Emergency Preparedness Procedures at OES • Please follow directions given by the classroom teacher or other staff members where you are volunteering. • When the fire alarm sounds, please turn off lights and close the door if you’re in the volunteer room. Exit the building and wait for an announcement to reenter. • Review exit plan and card in the volunteer room hanging by the door.

Potential Emergency Situations • Partial lockdown - Exterior doors are locked with only authorized access to the building, no students allowed outside unsupervised, activities conducted as usual inside. • Lockdown - All doors are locked, no one enters or leaves, students and staff stay inside until crisis situation clears. • Shelter in place - Exterior doors are locked, air handling units are turned off to protect students and staff from a hazardous substance in the air outside. • Evacuation - Students and staff move to an area outside on campus or to an off-campus location. • Reverse Evacuation - Students and staff are brought back into the building to protect them from a dangerous situation outside.

For More Information on Security… Please visit the FCPS Security web site at: http: //fcps. schoolwires. com/page/495

For More Information on Volunteering… Please visit the Oakdale Elementary PTA web site at: Oakdale. Elementary. my-pta. org “Volunteer” tab

Do you have any questions about volunteer programs at Oakdale Elementary?