Volunteering

Works directly with individual or small groups of students under teacher supervision. Volunteers listen to students read, reinforce basic math skills or assist students with written assignments.

Works with a teacher and performs tasks such as putting up bulletin boards, correcting papers, preparing teaching aids and special learning materials, duplicating worksheets and other jobs which will provide the teacher with more time to plan for and teach students.

Works with the school secretary and office staff to provide support and assistance with duties such as sorting mail, duplicating school newsletters and fliers, getting classroom supply orders ready for distribution to teachers, typing, answering phones and preparing bulletin boards for the office area.

Works in the health office with the school nurse or health aide providing clerical assistance and helping as needed.

Works with the media specialist by repairing and shelving books, doing clerical work or preparing bulletin boards and displays. Volunteers may also work with students helping them to locate and use library materials or assisting them with research projects.

District Policy 8800 authorizes the use of volunteers when they perform duties on behalf of the district as authorized by the principal for services to be performed at the school.

Volunteers must complete the volunteer application and their government-issued identification card shall be scanned through the Raptor Technologies system by a school employee prior to providing ongoing volunteer services.

The district reserves the right to require background checks and/or fingerprinting of any current or prospective volunteers. The principal or designee determines a volunteer’s schedule, work location and duties. The principal also has the right to deny or revoke any person’s volunteer status at any time. As a part of the application process, volunteers must submit two references who may be contacted to discuss the applicant’s skills, abilities and character. Specific legal information will also be requested regarding criminal charges, terminations or resignations in connection with any position in which the applicant worked with children, and any allegations of immoral conduct affecting the health, safety or welfare of children.

For application questions, call (720) 972-4071.

If you are interested in volunteering for a particular school, please call or visit the school directly. You will still need to fill out the application form.

Volunteers must:

• Register their presence in school buildings by signing in and out
• Fill out an emergency card, to be kept in the school’s main office
• Wear a volunteer name tag
• Be informed of applicable district policies (see below)

District Policy 8800

School volunteers work during the regular school days under the supervision of the principal or designee. Volunteers shall complete a volunteer application and be screened prior to providing ongoing volunteer services.

Further, this policy states that “All volunteer activities shall be conducted under supervision of school or District staff.” Although students rarely have behavior problems while working with volunteers, our schools have detailed student discipline plans. The responsibility for student discipline rests with the professional staff. Volunteers may not discipline students. Please make the teacher aware of any discipline problem that might arise while working with a student.

District Policy 5700

Volunteers may never dismiss a student from school. Students who must leave school early for any reason must receive permission from the school office and sign out before leaving. Under no circumstances may a volunteer take a student off campus. Volunteers may not walk or drive students to their homes unless the student’s parent has notified the school office in advance and given permission for the volunteer to do so.

District Policy 4100

Take your lead from the professional staff and dress appropriately for the job you are doing. Casual clothing is fine. Volunteers, like school staff, set an example for students. The speech and behavior of our volunteers should serve as good models for students to follow.

District Policy 5060

Students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are primarily responsible for determining the student’s personal appearance. Policy 5060 offers more detail as to what is prohibited. Since volunteers may not discipline students, please refer an offending student to a school employee.

District Policy 4310

Accurate information regarding medical conditions is the cornerstone of an appropriate response to an ill employee. As a volunteer, you are expected to self-report if you are affected by a communicable or life threatening disease. The principal or designee will take appropriate action depending on the situation.

District Policy 5300

The confidentiality of student education records are maintained in accordance with state and federal law, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).  District Policy 5300 defines “student education records” as “those records that are directly related to a student and maintained by the district or by a party acting for the district”.  Generally, student education records are available only:

• to parents or legal guardians of students under age 18 who present proper identification;
• to students age 18 and over who present proper identification;
• to staff members, such as the principal, teachers, counselors, nurses and other district personnel who have a specific and legitimate educational interest in inspecting such records; and
• to those who are assisting these staff members in their job tasks (i.e. volunteers);

It is the volunteer’s responsibility to maintain the utmost level of confidentiality when it comes to student information and student education records.

District Policy 1210

Volunteers, visitors, and persons using or upon District property, including all District buildings, schools, parking lots and grounds and any vehicle owned by, leased to, or used by the District, shall not engage in the conduct described below.

1. Alcohol, Drugs/Controlled Substances and Illegal Contraband. Being under the influence of or the use, possession, distribution, service or sale of alcohol, drugs, other controlled substances and other illegal contraband. This includes marijuana, even if legally purchased through retail establishments or prescribed.

2. Tobacco. The use of tobacco, or nicotine products, or any delivery mechanism or device that could be used for the consumption, ingestion or inhalation of tobacco or nicotine products or controlled substances at any school-sponsored event or activity and/or on all District property, including all District buildings, District grounds, District-owned and leased vehicles, and sites leased by the District, is prohibited pursuant to District Policy 3740.

3. Weapons. Possession of a firearm, firearm facsimile, explosive device, knife, or other dangerous weapon as defined by law or by District Policy.

4. Conduct with Risk of Harm. Persons present on District property shall not engage in conduct which poses a reasonable risk of harm to persons or District property, including but not limited to skateboarding, rollerblading, “heelies”, sledding and snowboarding, except as expressly authorized by a building administrator.

5. Disruptive Conduct. Persons present on District property shall not disrupt or interfere with educational activities and operations, including any extra-curricular or school-sponsored activities.

Volunteers who violate District Policy 1210 may be directed to leave District property, barred thereafter from being present on District property, and/or referred to law enforcement as appropriate under the circumstances.

District Policies 8400 and 8410

The District is committed to nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), age, religion, creed, national origin (including ethnicity), ancestry, genetic information (including family medical history), marital status, family composition, sexual orientation, transgender identity, gender identity, gender expression, or disability (“Protected Classes”), in its educational programs or activities, operations, and employment applications and decisions. Harassment may be a form of discrimination.

A report of discrimination or harassment may be made to any District employee, including the District’s Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator or designated assistant principal in each school building. Reports may be made in person, in writing, over the phone, by email or via the District’s website. The District’s nondiscrimination policies, grievance procedures, and online complaint form are available on the District’s Nondiscrimination and Title IX web pages on the District’s website.

The District’s Title IX/Non-Discrimination Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and documenting District compliance with District Policies 4140 (Equal Employment Opportunity), 8400 (Nondiscrimination), and 8410 (Sex-Based Discrimination and Harassment). Inquiries about these policies may be referred to the District’s Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. 

The District’s Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator is:
Megan Brooks
Title IX/Nondiscrimination Coordinator
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
1500 E 128th Ave, Thornton, CO 80241
Title IX-Nondiscrimination-Coordinator@adams12.org
(720) 972-4179

District Policy 4300

The district has policies and procedures providing protection for employees and volunteers, while employees or volunteers perform services on behalf of the district or on district property, against instances of assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, theft or damage to personal property, accusations of child abuse, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or other violations of the state law.

Should you experience any of the offenses listed above while serving as a volunteer for the District, please follow the applicable reporting process outlined in District Policy 4300.

For more information about the Five Star District’s volunteer program, call Human Resources, 720-972-4071.