We Love Volunteers!

Volunteer Spirit is Alive and Well at HMS!

Thank you to everyone who filled out the HMS Volunteer Form. We are excited with the response we have received to date.  (It’s not too late to submit your form!)

On October 3, 2012, we held HMS Volunteers 101 to provide new volunteers with the additional information on how you can help our school community.  We reviewed the following:

Volunteer Opportunities and Job Descriptions
Volunteer Handbook
Confidentiality
Questions & Answers

Please contact the HMS Volunteer Coordinator, Erin Crawford at ekilday115@aol.com if you have any questions regarding the HMS Volunteer Program.

If you were unable to attend the evening, feel free to contact Erin with any questions:

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Volunteers are an essential part of the Harold Martin School community and are active in almost every aspect of student life. The Volunteer Program welcomes all parents to share their time, commitment, and special skills with our students. Three years ago, we made some changes to our Volunteer Program. First, we are now officially a member of the New Hampshire Partners in Education program which has awarded us the Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in school volunteering for many years.

To become part of our volunteer program please take a few moments to complete the attached forms that will be coming home early in the school year. All potential volunteers are asked to fill out these forms.

Lists will be generated from these forms and used by the Volunteer Coordinator and the PTA to recruit volunteers as needs arise throughout the school year. This list is used as a tool to get the assistance we need. It is not a guarantee that you will get called for every event or task you sign up for. We try very hard to include everyone and provide an opportunity to be involved. It is also important to read the weekly Parent Flash and your teacher’s newsletters to find other ways to participate.

You will also receive an invitation to attend a volunteer a volunteer orientation in September-the date will be determined soon. The orientation will serve to familiarize our volunteers with the school building and procedures, provide training on relevant equipment and answer questions about the Volunteer Program.

Another way to become familiar with the program is by reading our volunteer handbook. Copies are available at the orientation meeting as well as by clicking here.

You may also have the opportunity to volunteer at home. There are many ways to do this. You may be asked by teachers to help prepare for some special events, you may be asked by the Volunteer Coordinator to make phone calls, assist the Publishing Center by typing at home, or in some other way. If you do volunteer at home please be sure to keep a log of the hours you’ve worked and return to the Volunteer Coordinator at the end of the year. This will help us provide an accurate number of hours to the NH Partners in Education so we can continue to earn the Blue Ribbon award which we have won for eight years straight.

Also, be sure to sign in at the office each time you volunteer.

Here are but a few examples of how volunteers share their time at HMS:

•         Providing one-on-one reading support to students.

•         Leading reading and enrichment groups.

•         Helping to run off papers for teachers.

•         Helping to put together the weekly Parent Flash.

•         Chaperoning class trips.

•         Supporting PTA’s facilitation of our Summer “Get to Know Each Other” Parties.

•         Running our publishing center.

•         Running our after school enrichment program Reaching For The Stars.

•         Serving on school committees such as the Author Committee and Playground Committee.

•         Organizing classroom parties.

Volunteer Log

Use this form to enter volunteer hours when working from home: Volunteer Log Sheet

Volunteer Handbook

Volunteer Handbook 0910

Volunteer Sign Up Sheet

HMS Volunteer Sign Up Sheet