Volunteer, Driver, Chaperone Explanations

School School Volunteer Explanations and Requirements (Keeping Our Children Safe) Created: Oct. 2006 Revised: Sept. 2008

The following requirements and explanations are intended to further clarify how Apostles Lutheran School protects youth, workers, and volunteers. All of the following fall within the guidelines of the Youth Worker Policy of Apostles Lutheran Church.

Volunteers

at Apostles Lutheran School fall into three categories:

1. Volunteer – a person who donates time to Apostles to assist in accomplishing its mission, but who may or may not work with children directly.

2. Driver – a volunteer who donates time to Apostles and provides a personal vehicle to transport students to and from school activities.

3. Chaperone or Child Supervisor-- a volunteer who has a supervisory role over school children either on or off campus. A supervisory role could include any interaction with children out of the view of the supervising teacher.

Situational Applications

– The fourth part of this document further explains the procedures for special school events and activities. ____________________________ The following give further explanations of the different volunteer responsibilities. 1. Volunteer A volunteer is a person who donates time to Apostles to assist in accomplishing its mission. A volunteer may or may not work with children. Volunteer Qualifications Volunteers must: • Be approved by a teacher, pastor, or Apostles staff member • Be qualified and physically able to do the task • Display appropriate attire • Annually take the Keeping our Children Safe (formerly Youth Worker) Training Class conducted by Apostles Lutheran Church and School Volunteer Responsibilities / Guidelines Volunteers will: • Adhere to the teacher’s direction • Be in the vision and presence of a teacher or Apostles employee when working with children. Last printed 9/4/2008 11:23:00 a9/p9 -1-

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Insure child’s safety at all times. Conduct themselves in a Christian manner. Not discipline children, but should report discipline issues to the supervising teacher, administrator, or staff member.

Volunteer Activities (Sample)

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Classroom help such as assisting students, tutoring, classroom décor etc. Office and clerical help such as copying, etc Extra Curricular assistance such as musical set design, costume creation, and athletic tournament assistance. Running errands for teachers or administration Cleaning and/or classroom maintenance. Food preparation including baking for fellowship events.

2. Driver A driver is a volunteer who donates time to Apostles and provides a personal or rented vehicle to transport students to a field trip. Driver Qualifications Drivers must: • Have a valid driver’s license, registration, insurance. • Be approved by church leadership • Be physically and emotionally able to defensively drive in all kinds of situations. • Abide by all the driving policies of Apostles Lutheran Church. Driver Responsibilities / Guidelines Drivers will. . . • Adhere to all the driving policies of the Youth Worker Policy of Apostles Lutheran Church including completing the Youth Worker Driver Form. • Obey all traffic laws, including but not limited to speed limit. • Refrain from cell phone use while driving to and from and during the field trip. • Monitor students’ behavior in the vehicle and notify teacher of any concerns. • Be aware of and respect the time line for the field trip, including return times . • Not make any unauthorized, non-emergency stops including fast food drivethru. • Gain approval for sibling participation from the teacher. • Use good Christian discretion in music selection and volume. • Not transport only 1 child in a car unless it is your own child, • Transport only students assigned to him or her by the supervising teacher or administrator. Last printed 9/4/2008 11:23:00 a9/p9 -2-

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Not drop off children at their homes. In an attempt to keep the class together, follow the route directed by the teacher. Not smoke, use tobacco, alcohol, or inappropriate language. Take emergency info provided by the teacher. Ensure the vehicle is safe and in proper condition to transport children. Understand that being a driver does not qualify a person for being a chaperone.

3. Chaperone/ Child Supervisor A chaperone or child supervisor is a volunteer who has a supervisory role over school children either on or off campus. A supervisory role could include any interaction with children out of the view of the supervising teacher. Chaperone Qualifications Chaperones must: • Be a member of Apostles Lutheran Church who has taken the Keeping our Children Safe Training Course. • Be 18 years old or older. (Apostles Elders have approved the hiring of 17 year olds as homeroom workers – July 2007)

Chaperone Responsibilities / Guidelines Chaperones will: • Consider safety their number one concern. • Remember that maintaining safety means maintaining discipline. • Remember the importance of confidentiality. • Model acceptable behavior, such as paying close attention while a leader is speaking. • Dress appropriately. • Be prompt. • Report any safety concerns or emergency situations to Apostles staff immediately. • Not bring other family members or friends on the trip or event without the expressed permission of the supervising teacher. • Not allow students to leave the group. • Not ask other chaperones to supervise their group. • Not buy drinks, snacks, treats, or souvenirs for his or her group unless it is a planned part of the trip. • Abstain from smoking and the consumption of alcoholic beverages. • Work to know the names of the children in his or her group and regularly check attendance. • Understand that being a chaperone does not qualify a person to be a driver. In addition and as a reminder Chaperones on overnight trips will Last printed 9/4/2008 11:23:00 a9/p9 -3-

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Consider themselves “on-duty” 24 hours. Attend all pre-trip informational meetings. Remember not to smoke or consume alcoholic beverages while on the trip at any time.

Chaperone Activities (Sample)

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Supervise a group of children during a field trip off campus. Lead a group of children to and from different areas of our campus during school events and activities.

4. Special Situational Applications Field Trips 1. When the field trip participants are divided into groups: a. Each group should have a minimum of two adults. b. A chaperone must be the leader of each group. c. With teacher approval a volunteer or driver may serve as the second adult in a group if it is not possible to have two chaperones with each group. i. Volunteers and Drivers are asked to ensure the safety of each child, but not to carry out discipline. They should report discipline issues to the chaperone and/or the classroom teacher. ii. In this case, the major responsibility of the volunteer or driver is to act as another set of eyes for the chaperone. 2. When the field trip participants are in one large group the teacher is considered the leader. All adults accompanying the field trip should follow the directions of the teacher. Coaching Coaches should follow the same qualifications of that as a chaperone. Piano Instructors 1. Piano instructors are not called, hired, or volunteers of Apostles Lutheran School. They are private instructors who are allowed to use our facilities as a convenience to our parents and students interested in piano lessons. 2. Every precaution is made to ensure the protection of our youth and these workers, but they will have relatively unsupervised contact with children. Yet, Apostles Lutheran School organizes those lessons in such a way that they are viewable by others including the administration. Washington D.C. Trip 1. The biannual Washington D.C. Trip is facilitated through Apostles Lutheran School for 7-8th graders, but is organized, operated, and supervised by an outside touring company.

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2. Every precaution is taken for the safety of youth, but an outside company is not bound by any policies or procedures of Apostles Lutheran Church and School. 3. Chaperones should attend all organizational and informational meetings and become familiar will all policies and procedures pertaining to the trip.

____________________________________________________________________________ Safety and Protection are Our First Priority The end goal of this document is to explain procedures necessary to protect our students, volunteers and workers and still accomplish the important goals we have for faith and learning at Apostles Lutheran School. If during a certain event or activity, it is clear that the safety or protection of children is compromised, every precaution should be taken to maintain the safest possible environment, even if it seems to contradict one of the procedures in this document.

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