We would love to have your gift of time volunteering at Sunnyslope Elementary. Volunteers play an important role in the success of our school year.
All volunteers must have a background clearance on file before volunteering in any capacity at Sunnyslope.
Volunteer applications are now being run at our district office. Application forms can be obtained at the district office or at our front office. You will be asked for your photo ID. Your background check will be processed using the Washington State Patrol system and you will be contacted with your eligibility result. Applicants are also checked against the National Sex Offender database. Clearances are valid for two years. This is in accordance with RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.845.
Clearances can take up to a few weeks to process. Please consider completing an application as soon as possible.
Please call Emily Beamenderfer at the district office for more information 360-874-7000.
To provide a safe environment for our students and staff, District policy requires all volunteers to complete a Washington State Patrol background check. Any of our office staff are available to help you with the application. Volunteer applications will be sent to our district office to be processed. You will be notified by our district office once the application has been cleared.
It is quick, confidential, and done at no cost to you. If a background check has been done at another South Kitsap school, it is not necessary to repeat the process. Let us know at which school your back-ground check was done, and we will contact that school for a copy. You will not be able to start volunteering in this building, until the results of the background check have been received here. It is, therefore, helpful if you begin the process as soon as possible.
GETTING STARTED
Once your clearance is on file, you may begin volunteering. If you would like to work in your child’s classroom, please contact that teacher directly. Teachers will also need parents for special occasions, such as parties and field trips. The teacher will let you know when these opportunities occur.
Unfortunately, due to our limited capacity, we are not able to accommodate volunteers with younger children on site. This is for the safety of your younger children and our learning environment. However, there are some volunteer jobs that can be worked on at home. You may inquire with your student’s teacher or the volunteer coordinator to find the best fit for you.
ARRIVING AT SCHOOL
Volunteers should park in the main lots. Please do not park in the bus lanes during the school day. All volunteers and visitors are required to check in, by signing-in on the clipboard, located at the small table in the front office. Please indicate the date and time of your arrival, your destination or project, and the time of your departure. This allows the staff to locate you if necessary. Name badges are provided for all volunteers and visitors to use when in the building. A map of the school is available if needed, and our office staff will be happy to direct you to your destination!
Parents and community members play an important role at Sunnyslope School by volunteering for a variety of projects during the school year. Volunteers work in and out of the classrooms, give students extra practice in reading fluency and with math facts, provide enrichment opportunities, during classroom Field Trips, with Picture Day, Field Day, and other PTA/district sponsored events & committees. There are opportunities for daily volunteering at specific times and events that need volunteers only once a year.
There is something for almost any interest. While most of our volunteering occurs during school hours, there are occasional needs for volunteers before and after school and some evenings. The Sunnyslope Volunteer Program can accommodate nearly any work schedule! Let us know if you have any special skills or talents you would like to share. We will try to find a way to use them! Whether a volunteer wants to help just now and then, or on a regularly scheduled basis, we encourage you to become involved.
Every year our school benefits from thousands of hours of volunteer service from both parents and members of the community. Please consider volunteering; it benefits our students and teachers, and you will be surprised at how good it makes you feel as well! Your time really does make a difference!!
Ask the teacher questions: What days and times does the teacher need help? Are you expected to make a commitment for the entire school year or just occasionally? Do you have a special skill? Are you a computer whiz or perhaps a teacher yourself? Can you play a
musical instrument or speak another language fluently? Let the teacher know so he/she can plan a
special time for you. You are counted on! If you can’t make your volunteer time, please let the teacher know as soon as
possible, to allow time to rearrange the schedule if necessary. Arrive a little early: This allows you time to sign in at the office and get your name badge. Remember to sign out when you leave the building!
IN THE CLASSROOM
Keep information confidential: If you overhear anything personal about a student, keep it to yourself. If you have a concern, contact Mrs. Del Palacio. Know the classroom rules: What are the teacher’s rules for student’s getting a drink, using the restroom, roaming the classroom? When you know the rules, you can direct students if asked. Observe: Does the teacher run a quiet or active classroom? Keep these traditions, even if they are contrary to your own style. Discipline: If you are working with a student that becomes uncooperative, let the teacher know. A volunteer does not need to work with students that are not following directions.
VOLUNTEERING SUCCESS
Listen: Encourage interaction when appropriate. If possible, work across from the student so you can talk to each other. Use eye contact. Praise: Even students who are slow to learn can shine when encouraged. Find things they do well and give positive feedback. Be Observant: Watch how the students work. Get to know when they need help and when you should hold back. Doing student’s work for them is not helpful in the long run; being there to assist and guide is. HAVE FUN! Volunteering is a win-win situation for you, the student, and the teacher.
Change lives by volunteering; yours and a child’s!
