As a parent of a child registered at Somerset Academy – Davie, you are required to volunteer 30 hours per academic year. This can be either in the classroom or outside of the classroom. We welcome the opportunity for parents to participate in classroom activities. Each parent that wishes to volunteer in the classroom must complete the Broward County Public Schools Volunteer Application and submit it to the school office for clearance prior to being eligible to work with students in the class.
The following provides a brief list of suggestions on what to do to complete your volunteer hours. At least 15 hours (or 1/2 of the volunteer hour family commitment) must be completed by February 15th of the current school year and all volunteer hours must be completed by May 31st of the current school year. Remember, Somerset Academy – Davie is a school of choice and, therefore, those children whose volunteer hour commitment is not completed by the end of the current school year will not be invited back to Somerset Academy – Davie for the following school year.
Helping Hands for Academics:
- Read to or with children
- Drill students with flash cards (ABCs, Times Tables, etc.)
- Cut out or prepare materials for an art or science lesson
- Assist children at the computers
- Work one-on-one with students having difficulty in a subject that you are comfortable in
- Work one-on-one with students who speak limited English
- Help students research information during research report writing (done monthly)
- Be a guest speaker to share information about which you are well-informed. For example, if you are a history buff, teach or tell about a historical event as it pertains to our social studies themes; share cultural experiences; during a career day, share job information and/or expertise. Feel free to bring in any objects related to what you are sharing. Let your child’s teacher know if you are specialized or well-informed about anything in particular at the beginning of the year. That way, the teacher can plan to have you present.
- Dramatically read and record a story onto a cassette tape for students to listen.
- Check out books in the library for classroom topics
- Assist in teaching a foreign language lesson
- Make educational games
- Help students research information
- Help with aromatic arts, music lessons or sing-alongs
- Make puppets
- Create a center and help carry it out
Helping Hands for Special Activities:
- Teach or play games with children during recess or P.E.
- Assist with an art or cooking project
- Help with music activities, such as singing practice and instruction
- Help paint, paper mache, or cut boxes for school play props
- Help during special events, such as Field Days, project days, holiday parties, or fundraiser activities
- Chaperone field trips
- Research and call upon community resources (for guest speakers, field trip and grant suggestions, fund raising ideas, donations for special events, computer software, etc.)
- Record a special song for students to learn to sing.
- Serving on special committees
- Help set-up/decorate bulletin boards
Always needed Donations:
- Snacks/Drinks/Candy/Treats
- Paper towels/Napkins/Paper plates/Plastic bowls/Paper cups/Plastic silverware
- Shoeboxes
- New or used books for our library
- Items on Teachers Wish-List
MANDATORY Policies for School Volunteers:
- Inform teacher at least one day prior to volunteering. Be sure that it is okay with the classroom teacher and schedule a specific time block for which you’ll be in school.
- At least two evening events must be attended per year. Two volunteer hours will be given for each event attended (excluding performances).
- At least fifteen (15) volunteer hours must be completed prior to February 15th of the current school year.
- All volunteer hours must be completed before May 31st of the current school year to enable your child to be enrolled for the following school year. No exceptions will be permitted.
- Parents or relatives wishing to volunteer more than one day per week must seek the permission of the principal. Parents wishing to stay in school more than 15 minutes after school begins for more than one day per week must also seek the permission of the principal beforehand. After receiving principal approval, he or she must go through Broward County Public School’s security background check. He or she must also fill out several school and county application and identification forms.
- All parents/relatives attending school daily must exit the classroom 15 minutes after school begins. Pick-up may only be allowed forty-five minutes before school ends or after dismissal to eliminate interruption of instruction.
Please note that it is the intention of dollar equivalents to give parents an indication of how hours will be calculated for “pre-owned” items. Gift certificates will not be accepted in lieu of completing your volunteer hour commitment.
- · For every hour spent on campus or in classroom = one hour credit
- · For every night meeting (performances excluded) attended = 2 hours credit
- · For every purchase of products for the classroom = 1/4 of the price (I.e. $4.00 spent receives 1 hour credit)
- · For completing a project at home (cutting out art materials) = 2 hours credit
- · For organizing an event = 5 hours credit
- · For counting UPC box tops or labels for education (for school) = 2 hours credit
- · For every hour in the office or media center = 1 hour credit
- · For developing and sharing a lesson with a class = 4 hours credit
- · For assisting in a cooking lessons and purchasing the products = 4 hours credit
- · For chaperoning on a trip (in school or out of school): 1/2 day = 4 hours credit, full day = 7 hours credit
- · Donating new or excellent conditioned used books to the media center (early childhood, elementary, and middle school levels only): for every 5 books = 2 hours credit
- · For organizing an event = 5 hours credit
