Volunteer

Woodbury High School Volunteering

Periodically, we have a need for parent volunteers and would like to generate a data-base of parents who might be interested in volunteering at WHS. When a need arises, we will notify parents who have indicated an interest.

Please complete the form below to be included in our Parent Volunteer network. You can opt out at anytime.

Parent Volunteer Network Form

SoWashCo Schools Volunteering Process

Without volunteers, our student achievement and student opportunities would not be what they are today.

SoWashCo Schools prides itself on the wealth of involvement from parents and community members.

Volunteers at SoWashCo Schools:

Enrich and enhance student learning.
Enable teachers to offer more individual attention to their students.
Provide individuals and opportunity to participate in a variety of activities within the school.
Promote and strengthen the partnership between families, community and the school.

Please review the Volunteer Handbook before applying.

Apply

Contact

Community Education
volunteers@sowashco.org
651-425-6601

The Volunteer Handbook

Why volunteer?

Volunteering is an opportunity for you to show your children:

Your interest in their school life
Your commitment to the community
Your belief that education is a partnership between family and school
Your belief that learning is a lifelong process

personal benefits of volunteering

Experience the satisfaction of helping people
Develop new skills
Meet new and interesting people; develop new friendships
Share your time and talent

student benefits of volunteering

Students will see a clear relationship between families, community and schools
Students will develop a feeling that school is important because they see their parents and community showing an interest and becoming involved
Student's self-confidence improves when they notice the interest and involvement their families and community have in their school activities
Students are able to demonstrate first hand their activities to their families and community
Statistics prove that student achievements are higher when their families are involved in their school activities

The Volunteer Process

the volunteer process

All volunteers at SoWashCo Schools are required to apply through an online application to create their district profile. Per School Board Policy 903.5 Volunteer Background Checks, all volunteers must complete a background check.

If you have an upcoming volunteer responsibility and are concerned that you will not have enough time to go through the background check process, please contact Community Education.

backGRound checks

The process to obtain a background check is completed online through the volunteer application. Volunteers will get an automatic reminder to update their background check when they are near the two-year renewal date.

It takes approximately 4-5 business days for the background check to process. The cost is $5, which will be paid online. Anyone who does not have access to a computer, or needs to pay in a different way should contact Community Education.

Employees with a District ID number will not need to have a background check to serve as an academic or athletic coach, chaperone on field trips or serve in a capacity where they will be alone with students because a background check will already be on file.

Procedures When Volunteering

Sign-in

Volunteers are asked to sign in with a staff member and present their identification when visiting/volunteering at one of our district buildings. A drivers license, passport card will all be accepted. Please be sure to check out before you leave as well.

name badge

A badge with your photo will be printed when you sign in with a staff member through our visitor management system. This is important to wear on your outermost layer of clothing so you will immediately be recognized as a person whose specific purpose is to help students and staff.

accept direction

Accept direction and supervision. While recognizing that you are an important leader, you do not take the place of a staff member, but are a supplementary person who offers assistance and enrichment with your personal skills and competence.

Guidelines for Volunteering

appearance

As representatives of SoWashCo Schools, volunteers, like staff, are responsible for presenting a good image to students and to the community. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the condition and performance of their duties.

assignment

If the assignment does not prove to be what you expected, please notify the supervising staff person. If you feel hesitant to discuss it with the staff person, please contact the volunteer services coordinator or school principal.

be dependable

Come when promised and on time. Students, staff and other volunteers count on you. If you are unable to keep a commitment, call the office and leave a message for the appropriate teacher, chairperson or volunteer services coordinator as far in advance as possible.

communications

Maintain good communications with staff, building volunteer services coordinator and other volunteers. Any question is a good question – be sure to ask! Make every effort to arrange a time to talk with the teacher when there are problems or questions.

confidentiality

Information regarding our students is confidential. SoWashCo Schools is regulated by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. This law states:

No information can be shared regarding a student without the written and witnessed signed consent of the adult student or underage student's parent or guardian.
Discussing personal information regarding an adult student or underage student will be cause for disciplinary action and/or lead to termination of the volunteer.

Confidentiality is important to the integrity of our program. It is important to respect the privacy of all students, staff and other volunteers. Never repeat anything you have heard or seen about individuals while volunteering.

cultural differences

Our community is diverse. It is important that we work with one another positively and consider cultural, moral and value differences.

Discipline

Volunteers may not discipline students beyond maintaining order in their group or activity. Please report any problems with students' behavior to the supervising staff person. The professional staff of the school is always responsible for discipline.

mandatory reporting

Volunteers are considered "mandated reporters." That means you must report when you have knowledge or reason to believe that a child is being or has been neglected or physically or sexually abused. Report any incident or suspicion immediately to a staff person.

record keeping

Keeping accurate records is an important part of the volunteer program. Accurate records allow us to assist volunteers who might request records for use on job applications, they allow us to track how, when and where volunteers are utilized in the district and they serve in the future program planning. Accurate records enable us to recognize the contributions of all volunteers.

religious, racial or sexual harassment

Religious, racial or sexual harassment is a violation of Federal and State law and of SoWashCo Schools District Policy. Copies of Personnel Policy, Policy Against Sexual Harassment and other School District Policies may be obtained at:

District Service Center
7362 E. Point Douglas Roads S.
Cottage Grove, MN 55016

View the policies on the district site

Volunteers are required to observe all School District Policies.

staff responsibilities

Volunteers are an important part of the educational team. The suggestions and opinions of volunteers are always welcome. It is the professional staff, however, that is held responsible by law for the decisions that are made regarding the instruction of students and school management. For this reason, volunteers always work under the direct supervision of the professional staff. The professional staff is responsible for everything that goes on in the building, including student instruction, safety and discipline.

student contact

As a volunteer you will meet many students and will enjoy working with them. However, volunteers should not telephone students, visit them at their homes or meet students off school grounds without permission from the parents and/or school principal. In addition, when working with students, whether individually or in small groups, we recommend you work in a highly visible area. This is not only for the protection of the students but volunteers as well.

tax deductions

Some of your out-of-pocket expenses connected with volunteering may be deductible when you file your income tax. Consult with your tax advisor concerning your personal tax situation.

use of controlled substances

It is important that we are in compliance with the Regulations of SoWashCo Schools and the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, possession or use of controlled substances in the workplace. This policy applies to paid staff, volunteers and students.

You may review a copy of the Drug Free Workplace Certification Policy on file at:

District Service Center
7362 E. Point Douglas Road S.
Cottage Grove, MN 55016.

value in dollars and sense

Volunteers are a valuable asset to our school. They dedicate many hours of their time to give teachers more time to teach and to provide opportunities for students to learn and enjoy school. Volunteers represent a great gift to the district and to the children who attend its schools.

what I shouldn't do as a volunteer

Volunteers supplement and support the program, but may not:

Have access to student permanent record files
Diagnose student needs
Make final evaluation on student achievement
Counsel students
Discuss student progress with parents

Tips for Working with Students

Call students by name; be friendly and caring.
Be enthusiastic, patient and kind.
Praise success.
Be honest with students. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.”
Be comfortable with silence. Allow student time to think and form answers.
Do not give any student materials on your own without first discussing it with the teacher.
Accept students as they are. Be sensitive to differences in background, culture, religion, values, vocabulary and aspirations.
Never make a promise you can’t fulfill.
Do not eat candy, snacks or gum when working with students unless it is part of programming.
Be dependable and prompt.
Keep calm in an emergency.
Maintain your sense of humor!
And by all means, enjoy yourself! You have the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life! How wonderful is that?!

and most importantly...

Parents are their children's most important educators throughout their learning years!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs to apply online?

Who needs a background check?

We highly recommend that all volunteers complete a background check.

Per School Board policy, criminal background checks will be required of volunteers in specified assignments such as field trips, athletic or academic coaching and any non-staff supervised activity. Additionally, volunteers who are in the same classroom or activity more than 2 times per month will also be required to have a background check.

Background Screening Standards

The South Washington County School District strives to maintain a safe and healthy educational environment that promotes the physical, social and psychological well-being of all students. All designated volunteers must receive a criminal background check prior to starting a volunteer assignment with South Washington County Schools. An individual will be disqualified and prohibited from serving as a volunteer if that individual has been found guilty or entered a plea of non-contender (no contest), regardless of the adjudication for any of the following disqualifying offenses:

Sex Offenses
1. All Sex Offenses- Regardless of the amount of time since the offense
  1. Examples: Child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, etc
Felonies
1. All Violent Felony Offenses- Regardless of the amount of time since the offense
  1. Examples: Murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated burglary, etc.
2. All Felony Offenses, other than violent or sex within the past ten (10) years.
  1. Examples: Drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud, child endangerment, etc.
Misdemeanors
1. All Violent Misdemeanor offenses within the past five (5) years, or multiple offenses within the past seven (7) years.
  1. Examples: Simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly conduct, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, etc.
2. Any other Misdemeanor offense within the past five (5) years that would be considered a potential danger to children, or is directly related to the functions of that employee or volunteer.
  1. Examples: Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to a minor, theft (if person is handling monies), etc.

The district reserves the discretion to consider factors and information, including whether the nature of the offense implicates a behavior that is contradictory to serving as a volunteer.