Questions to Consider When Volunteering at School
Volunteering for your kids' school can be so rewarding! Here are some things to consider before you say yes (or no) to a position so you can make an informed decision.
Hello! It’s the first Sunday of “Maycember” – the second busiest month after December! This is the last full month before the end of the school year, there are holidays like Teacher Appreciation Week, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day, there are end of the year events like graduations and classroom parties, for some families there is figuring out childcare/camps for the summer, and if you’re traveling, all the prep that goes with that! This month requires A LOT from parents… If that’s on your mind right now, then click here to go to a May To-Do List that I put together to help us get it all done – hope you can use it to inspire your own Maycember list!
What I want to discuss today is that on top of all that busyness of wrapping up the current school year, this is usually when schools reach out to parents to see what positions they’d like to volunteer for during the upcoming school year. Thinking about next year right now feels crazy, but it’s when the schools need to get things set so they have no choice!
Volunteering at school can be amazing and is a great way to build your own bond with your kid’s school and find a new wonderful community. When you’re on campus you get to see your kid’s world and often get to spend bonus time with them which is really special, and you may feel more connected to them and to their days in a way you haven’t before. Plus, especially in preschool and kindergarten, kids usually love seeing their parents on campus and seeing that joy and getting those hugs is an amazing bonus to your volunteer work! I also got to know my kids’ friends in a way I never would have had I not been in the classroom, and I love that. Also, I have made some super close friends that I never would have made without volunteering! Volunteering to help your kids’ school is a wonderful way to get to know other families at school that you might never have gotten to know otherwise. And, it’s really great to see the teachers at work – it’s inspiring and exciting to know that your kid gets to be with them every day!
But, it’s important to remember that the position for which you’ve volunteered is what has earned you all of those bonuses! The position you’re volunteering for is something the school is counting on you to do well in exchange for that extra time with your kid and for helping you build your school community.
I’ve volunteered for multiple positions at my three kids’ various preschools and elementary schools - in my over 9 years of having kids in school, I’ve helped with many holiday celebrations in the classrooms, and also held official volunteer positions including:
Room Parent/Room Representative (for both preschool and elementary school)
Gala Co-Chair
Auction Co-Chair
Field Day Co-Chair
School Tour Guide
Teacher Appreciation Week Committee
Halloween Carnival Committee
My experience with all of those volunteer positions has shown me that while they all have different duties, there are some common things required of each of those positions. So, with all that experience and reflection on those jobs, I wanted to share what I think are the most important things to ask and investigate when considering saying yes (or no) to a volunteer position in the hopes that it inspires you to ask questions before making a decision - I’d hate for you to think a position is more intense than it is and say no, just like I’d hate if you said yes and then got in over your head and couldn’t make it to all the commitments the position required and got frustrated.
These questions are not weighted in any one way – they are simply presented to give you a chance to think about what works for your personal situation (and what doesn’t) before making a decision! They are also not every consideration ever - these are simply what I usually think about before I make a decision about volunteering.
TIME
Time is the biggest bucket to consider. Each position requires different amounts of time, and what you can give one school year will vary. Some years I’ve had a lot of time to give to a school and other years I’ve had barely any time! Keep in mind what the upcoming school year looks like for YOU (i.e. are you having a new baby, are you launching a big work project, etc.) as you ask about and investigate the following:
When does the time commitment begin? Is it months before the event or right before the event begins? For example, if the event is in the fall, will there be time required from you during the summer?
What length of time during the school year will you need to commit time to the position? For example, if you’re planning an event, once it is over is the commitment over?
How often will you need to be in person, on zoom, on calls, etc.? What are the mandatory meeting requirements for the position? Some positions are weekly, some are monthly, and some are daily in the month leading up to the event that is being planned.
If you are a room parent, will you be required to be in the classroom every week, every month, or just certain holidays?
Does the role last one school year or for more than one school year? For example, if you volunteer to be a Vice President to a position, does that mean that the next year you will be President?
What time, and when, is the event? If it is a big Gala, are you in town for it? If it is an early morning teacher breakfast, do you have childcare for your child (and other children) while you set up for the breakfast at the school?
If you volunteer for an event, do you need to be there for setup and cleanup?
TRAINING
These volunteer positions vary from school to school, and from grade to grade. So, when volunteering, figuring out how to do the job is a big part of doing it well!
Will the person leaving the position be reachable for any questions?
Are there any files or google docs that can be shared so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel?
Do the teachers have an outline of what they expect for the year so you can follow it and know you’re doing what they need?
COST
What out-of-pocket expenses (if any) are expected? Some schools have a fund for classroom events while others do not.
Is everyone on the committee/in the group in agreement with what they are willing to contribute (if anything) above what the school has set aside?
If you have a kid still at home, consider the monetary cost of finding someone to watch them while you’re at school volunteering for the position.
Do you need to donate items to events or auctions?
PEOPLE
How often will you get to be with your child in this position?
How many other people will be working with you – is this a position that is a team or just you?
If this is a team or a committee, do you get to choose the other parents on the team or does the school assign them?
If this is a committee, are the duties of each person on the committee clearly outlined?
To whom at the school does the position report?
DUTIES
Do you need to present/make speeches in front of a classroom, in front of the parents, in front of the entire school?
Do you need to send out emails to other parents?
Do you need to ask for money, or source items, from parents to donate to the school?
Do you to come up with the classroom crafts or are they pre-planned?
APPROVAL
Do you need any special medical tests or vaccinations to volunteer for the positions? Some schools need certain medical clearance for volunteers to be in the classrooms with kids which may take time or take a few steps to get sorted.
Do you need approval from the head of the school to volunteer for the position?
Volunteering can be a lot of work, but if you think about all of the above questions before saying yes or no, then you’ll know what you’re getting into! I also want you to consider saying yes before knowing every answer to the above questions – building community and helping your kids in a way that is different than simply assisting with homework can feel so fulfilling, so taking a leap and saying yes is worth it!
I hope the above considerations help you as you think about what to say yes or no to when your kid’s school sends out volunteer questionnaires!
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
If you’re interested in some of my other school related posts, check out: