This information is provided for your safety a well as the protection of the children with whom you will be working. Please review it carefully and ask any questions that may arise. We want the time you spend volunteering in a Cascade school to be a positive experience for all.

Relationships: For the protection of all, the relationship between you and all students with whom you volunteer must be kept appropriate at all times. Continuing your volunteer relationship out-of-school contact, such as phone calls, home visits, or invitations to your home, social events, office, vehicle, or activities is not permitted. This prohibition, of course, would not restrict out-of-school contact with students who are family friends or know to you through other community contacts.

Appropriate touching: Handshakes, “high five’s”, an arm or hug around a shoulder are the only safe and friendly ways to touch a child when you are volunteering. For some children, or for some cultures, even these gestures may be unwelcome. No child should be subject to unwelcome touching no matter how well intended. If a child ever inappropriately touches you, please inform a staff member right away.

Communication: You are a role model. Your conversations with students and staff should demonstrate respect for others and avoid language that may be perceived as discriminatory, profane, sexist, or offensive. No student or staff person should ever be treated differently, spoken to disrespectfully or denied services on the basis of sex, race, religion, disability, age, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or marital status. In addition, school personnel or volunteers cannot encourage or promote religious beliefs by class activities, comments or invitations to their place of worship.

Confidentiality: As a volunteer, you must respect and maintain confidentiality in regard to personal information obtained regarding a child or his/her family with certain exceptions. Reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, illegal or dangerous activities should be shared with staff. Be assured they will follow up on the information.

Discipline: Any discipline of a student should be left up to a staff member. Physical punishment is never permitted.

School safety plan: In the event of an emergency while you are on site (fire, earthquake etc.) you need to be familiar with the Safety Plan of the building in which you volunteer. Each school will provide their Safety Plan to volunteers.

Check in/out: All visitors, including volunteers, are required to sign in at the main office in the school and wear an identification badge while on campus.

Alpine Lakes Elementary School