Volunteering

CODE OF ETHICS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Dear Volunteer:

Children’s rights are protected by a California Law, The Family Right To Privacy Act. All that you see here and do here (at Los Alamitos) concerning children is private and confidential. Each child deserves the same respect that you would expect someone to have for your own child.

As a volunteer, you are privy to information which is confidential and protected by law. This information can range from the performance of students in their daily work or activities, to teachers’ work or behavior. When you are a volunteer, you are expected to act professionally at all times. You should also consider yourself to be a "de facto" employee of the school and conduct yourself like any member of the teaching or administrative staff. Doing so will mean that you work to the best interest of all. Please make sure that you have a current TB test on file in the school office because you are working with children. The school district will pay for your test if you go to one of the clinics listed. Pick up a form in the school office. We hope the following list will be a guide for you to carry out your responsibilities in a manner which reflects pride and desire to help those who need it or ask for it.

In order to minimize disruption to the educational program of all students; please do not bring your preschoolers when volunteering. Cooperative baby-sitting for one another’s young children is encouraged.

Thank you for your generous gift of time and talent.

Sincerely,

Shyril M^cGuiness, Principal

Drop a Pebble in the Water

by James W. Foley

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone.
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet.
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or carelessness: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go.
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or carelessness: in a minute you forget;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred.
And disturbed a life was happy 'ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave.
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy a-circling yet.
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

We know that there may be differences between your perceptions and those of the classroom teacher. Keep those differences to yourself until you and the teacher can speak privately about your concerns.

Some volunteers may find that they have chosen to volunteer because they want to keep a watchful eye on the teacher of their own child. Still others may add pressure to the child by telling the child about the way he or she behaved poorly in class, or failed to study hard enough. Children do not need this added burden so try to look at your motivation before deciding to volunteer.

Regardless of whether the information reflects well or poorly on a student or teacher, keep the information to yourself. You cannot anticipate how others will behave with innocently transmitted information. Such information includes grades, behavior problems, test scores and other information which is the exclusive domain of the school’s professional staff and the parents of the child in question. You have a confidence to uphold and you will be expected to do so as you would for your own child.

If you see or hear something which concerns you, speak to those who can tell you the facts and work to resolve the problems. They include the teachers and administrators, both of whom are always there to lend their support to you, both as a parent and a volunteer. If you are in doubt about a task, don’t be afraid to double check with the teacher for clarity.

Teachers are trained to deal with the problems of children and have seen many children with a wide range of problems. Do not act to intervene in any classroom problem without permission of the teacher. If children are fighting, stop the fight, but refer the matter to the teacher for any further action…If an issue concerns safety of students, step in and use your best judgment. Refer playground problems to the persons in charge at the time.

Smoking is not allowed on campus. If you have been drinking, please do not come to school to work with any part of our program. Please refrain from gum chewing at school. We maintain a no-gum policy for our students and expect adults to also follow the rules.

The staff room is a private resting place, a meeting place, a conference area, and a dining room for the staff members. Volunteers may use the staff room and the copy equipment in the staff room provided it is not being used by the staff. The best time is between recesses and lunch. Do not use the copy machines unless you have been trained by the office staff. The staff members have priority on all machines. The school maintains a room next to the cafeteria (Music Room) for PTA volunteers and for class music. Check the sign-up sheet in the staff room.

Be considerate of noise while working the laminating machine/paper cutter, Ellison die casts, etc.

Please do not stand and talk in the back of classrooms or the library. It is distracting to both students and teachers.

We hope these simple, yet important, rules will help you carry out your duties to the credit of yourself and the school. We are happy to have concerned parents play an active role in school business and to do so in the spirit of cooperation and professionalism. Thank you for your continuing support for all children.