Volunteer Opportunities

Partnership in Mission Program

The goal of the Partnership in Mission Program is to invite families to be active partners in advancing the mission and development objectives of STCS.  Each family is required to earn twenty (20) Partnership Points over the course of the school year, but each family has great latitude in selecting from among several activities at STCS to earn those points.  There are two stipulations as to how the twenty points are earned:

• Ten (10) of the points must be awarded through active volunteering for our largest fundraiser of the year, Orbis Festivalis.
• Points are assigned per family and not per individual in all volunteer positions EXCEPT for the festival and the gala.

Prior to volunteering for an event, all volunteers must have a current Safe Environment certification and background check on file.  In addition, while volunteering at a school event, volunteers cannot bring younger siblings or other children while working.

Volunteer Opportunities at Saint Theresa Catholic School

At Saint Theresa Catholic School, there are many opportunities to get involved in school activities, get to know the faculty and staff, and form friendships with other families.  The following outlines all the volunteer opportunities available and the points awarded for those activities to each family at STCS.  Please take a moment to review the following organizational structure for STAP.  For additional information, please contact the school office.

Volunteer Opportunities

STAP President (20 points):

• Presides at all STAP meetings.
• Provides an agenda for all STAP meetings.
• Meets or communicates with school administration prior to each month’s STAP meeting for items to be included in the agenda.
• Checks in regularly with committee chairs.
• Sets the STAP calendar for the school year, in consultation with administration.
• Fills all STAP officer positions and committee chair positions in consultation with administration.
• Approves a monthly newsletter to school families and administration.
• Updates STAP bulletin board monthly.
• Maintains STAP President binder for the current school year, which includes the following:
• School calendar
• Event(s) tracker
• Meeting notes
• Goal tracker
• Ideas
• To Do List
• Meeting attendance
• Member list
• Volunteer sign-up sheets
• Flyers
• Previous meeting agendas
• Important contact information

STAP Vice President/Treasurer (20 points):

• Attends all STAP meetings.
• Stands in for STAP President when he or she is unavailable.
• Works with the STAP President on meeting agenda, STAP calendar, filling officer and committee positions, and newsletter and bulletin board.
• Meet with Business Manager quarterly for updates on fundraising money received/expensed.

STAP Secretary (20 points):

• Attends all STAP meetings.
• Takes notes at STAP meetings and types up minutes.
• Sends minutes to STAP President for review and approval.
• Provides typed copy of approved minutes to STAP President for filing.
• Sends Thank-You notes to members outside of STAP and families that go above and beyond for the school.  Coordinates with administration on the sending of condolence cards, prayer support, and get-well notes to families in need.
• Prepare monthly newsletter to send to families.
• Supports STAP President and Vice President in needed areas.

Box Tops Committee Chair (10 points)

Box Tops has the potential to contribute a great deal to our school’s fundraising efforts.  The committee chair will:

• Attend all STAP meetings.
• Work with school Office Coordinator to organize monthly communications to STCS parents for Box Top collection.
• Offer contests and incentives to families to collect Box Top points.

Birthday Book Committee Chair (10 points)

The STCS Birthday Book Program offers families an opportunity to uniquely memorialize their young scholar’s birthday through a donation to the school’s library.  Families can choose to donate a hardbound book from the STCS Library Collection Wish List. A bookplate will be placed inside the front cover of the selected book with the scholar’s name, birthdate, and day of donation.  In addition, the scholar will:

• Be the first student to check out the book,
• Have their picture taken presenting the book to the Headmaster, and
• Receive a personalized letter from the Headmaster commemorating the donation.

The Birthday Book Chair will work with the Advancement Coordinator to promote the program and will:

• Attend all STAP meetings.
• Communicate with STCS parents at least two weeks prior to a student’s birthday to offer the opportunity to participate in the program.
• Ensure all donors receive the proper materials and recognition.

Spirit Dinners and Lunches Committee Chair (10 points):

• Attend all STAP meetings.
• Work with school Office Coordinator to organize spirit dinners and lunches.  These events must be scheduled and approved by the beginning of the school year for the first semester, and by the beginning of the second semester for the last half of the school year.

Teacher Appreciation Committee Chair (10 points):

• Attend all STAP meetings.
• Work with school administration to plan and celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.

Grants/Scholarships Committee Chair (10 points):

• Attend all STAP meetings.
• The committee chair for Grants/Scholarships will work directly with the Advancement Coordinator to identify potential grant and scholarship funding and assist in the application process including narrative writing.

Griffin Booster Committee Chair (20 points):

This club is a two-pronged organization.  One leg combines the Mom’s Club and Dad’s Club, two clubs that have a common goal of organizing social activities for their members that provide an opportunity for STCS parents to socialize and become better acquainted.  The second leg of the Griffin Boosters involves the planning, organizing, and implementation of support for the two largest fundraisers for our school: the Christmas Gala and Orbis Festivalis.  The Booster Chair will:

• Attend all STAP meetings.

• Ensure all volunteer and committee positions are filled for the Mom’s Club, Dad’s Club, Christmas Gala, and Orbis Festivalis.

• Conducts activities and events to promote membership in STAP and Griffin Booster.

• Organize and oversee the Griffin Booster Club. 

Mom’s Club and Dad’s Club Committee Chair (10 points):

• The Mom’s Club will:

• Work with school administration to organize and run the Welcome Committee which will be on hand to greet new families to the school, answer FAQ’s, and sponsor a welcome dinner before the beginning of the school year.  The Welcome Committee will consist of a representative from each homeroom class.

• Work with school administration to organize and run our school’s International Day celebration.

• Plan monthly social gathering opportunities.

• The Dad’s Club will:

• Work with school administration to organize and run the Movie Day fundraisers and the Griffin Game Night fundraisers.
• Plan monthly social gathering opportunities.

International Day Volunteer

International Day celebrates our school’s rich Catholic cultural and ethnic diversity.  Events for the day include parent presentations from ten countries around the world.  Each country will include our chosen theme for that year to be included in the presentation.  The following volunteer positions are needed for this day:

Presenter (5 points) – At least one presenter is needed for each country to plan and present information about the chosen theme, history, food, art, culture, etc.

Server (2 points) – Several volunteers are needed to prepare and serve food items representative of each country.

Set Up/Clean Up (2 points) – Several volunteers are needed to set up and clean up for this event.

Movie Days Volunteer

Movie Days are held on some Early Dismissal/Late Arrival days.  The following volunteer positions are needed for these days:

Check In/Check Out (2 points) – Provide method and/or listing of all students attending the movie day to ensure all are present and accounted for.  For a movie day held on an early dismissal day, volunteers will need to provide a check out system to ensure students are picked up by parents/guardians.

Set Up/Clean Up (2 points) – Assist in the set up and clean up for the event.

Supervise (2 points) – Provide supervision for the group of students.

The volunteer positions for Movie Days will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families prior to the event.

Griffin Game Night

STCS will hold a Griffin Game Night 4 times each school year.  Parents get an evening to themselves after they drop off their child(ren) for a night filled with games, food, and refreshments.  The game nights are held in the Family Life Center.  The following volunteer positions are needed for these nights:

Check In/Check Out (2 points) – Provide listing of all students attending the game night and ensure all are present and accounted for.  Students can only be picked up by their parent unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Set Up/Clean Up (2 points) – Assist in the set up and/or clean up for the event.

Supervise (2 points) – Provide supervision for the students in all the game sections.

The volunteer positions for Griffin Game Night will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families prior to the event.

Orbis Festivalis Volunteer Opportunities

Games and Crafts Committee Chair (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee to run the following at Orbis Festivalis:

• Determine games and crafts needed for the festival.
• Purchase supplies for the games and crafts.
• Determine the number of prizes needed for the festival and purchase those prizes.
• Distribute Griffin Bucks for the game and craft booths.
• Signage needed at the game and craft areas.
• Collection of tickets during the festival and reporting of results to the Business Manager.
• Set Up and Clean Up of games and crafts on day of festival.

Facilities Committee Chair (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee to implement the following:

• Determine festival layout.
• Reserve tables, chairs, tents, and other items for the festival.
• Signage for the festival.
• Rides/Activities – reserve and plan layout.
• Pumpkin Patch – plan layout and purchase of items needed.
• Beer Garden – purchase of all supplies and items needed.
• Set Up and Clean Up of festival.

Concessions Committee Chair (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee to implement the following:

• Determine the menu for the festival.
• Signage for the festival.
• Purchase of all supplies and food needed for concessions.
• Set Up/Clean Up.

Festival Volunteer Committee Chair (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Determine number of volunteers needed and set up Sign Up Genius.
• Ensure all volunteer spots are filled.
• Work with the Business Manager regarding all parent communications needed for parent volunteers.
• Set up and clean up on day of the festival.
• Provide volunteer sign in/ sign out at festival.
• Provide all volunteer information to Office Coordinator after festival.

Festival Sponsorship Chair (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Work with the Business Manager to plan the advertising strategy and all promotional material needed for the festival.
• Plan and organize a committee to seek festival sponsors.
• Follow up with all sponsorship requirements for printing and display purposes.  Ensure all sponsors and donors receive appropriate recognition.
• Follow up thank you notes to sponsors.

Festival Volunteers – Volunteers are needed for all the above-mentioned categories.  Two Partnership in Mission Points are awarded for each 2-hour volunteer time slot worked.  The festival hourly volunteer positions will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families approximately one (1) month prior to the festival.

Christmas Gala Volunteer Opportunities

Gala Auction Committee (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Submit requests and gather items for Silent Auction.
• Work with all homeroom parents to organize classroom auction baskets.
• Enter all auction items into Auction platform (OneCause).
• Signage for the auction.
• Set Up/Clean Up of silent auction items.
• Ensure all silent auction donors receive recognition.
• Follow up with thank you letters to silent auction donors.
• Ensure all silent auction winning items are distributed and accounted for.

Gala Decorations Committee (10 points) – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Design and obtain all decorations for the Gala.
• Order all table linens, chair linens, etc. for the Gala.
• Assist in the Set Up/Clean Up of all decorations for the Gala.

Gala Promotions Committee (10 points): – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Design, print, and distribute Gala invitations, brochures, and Gala program with ads.
• Obtain sponsors for the Gala.
• Ensure all sponsors and advertisers receive recognition.
• Follow up with thank you letters to all sponsors and donors.

Gala Babysitting Committee (10 points): – Plan and organize a committee for the following:

• Ensure room reservations are made for babysitting.
• Work with church representative in charge of babysitting to arrange for the number of sitters needed for the evening.
• Purchase all food and drinks needed for the night of the event.
• Assist with Check in and Check out for students in babysitting.
• Coordinate with the Faculty Sponsor of the Student Council for Middle School students to volunteer for service hours.

Gala Set Up and Clean Up Committee (10 points): – Plan and organize a committee for the set up and clean up of the Gala.

Gala Volunteers – Those who volunteer on the day of the event receive two Partnership Points for every two hours worked.  The Gala hourly volunteer positions will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families approximately one (1) month prior to the Gala.

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Grade Level Volunteer Opportunities

Homeroom Parent (5 points)

Each homeroom needs one volunteer who will coordinate the following activities for your homeroom class:

• Auction basket for Christmas Gala
• All Saints’ Day is the occasion for our annual costume procession where students dress as their patron saint or other holy figure who inspires them.  The Homeroom Parent is asked to assist students who need help with their costume and to assist the homeroom teacher with keeping the students in line during the parade.
• Teacher Appreciation – work with STAP as a representative for your class.
• Miscellaneous activities as determined by homeroom teacher.

Welcome Committee representative (2 points)

Each homeroom class needs one volunteer for this committee.  The representative of each class will:

• Work with Welcome Committee chair to plan and hold a New Family dinner prior to the start of the school year.
• Be the contact person for your homeroom class to reach out to any new family/families in your class to arrange for a welcome meeting and other social gatherings intended to introduce the new family/families to other students and parents in your class.
• Offer of assistance for any questions the new family/families may have.

Miscellaneous Volunteer Opportunities

8^th Grade Graduation Volunteer (2 points)

Eighth-grade graduation activities include a graduation Mass and family reception.  Volunteers are needed for decorating, set up, and clean up for the family reception.

STCS Parish Bazaar Representative (5 points)

Saint Theresa Catholic Church hosts an annual Bazaar each April.  Our school hosts the Ring a Coke game booth.  The Committee Chair for the Bazaar will organize volunteers to work all shifts and also organize the collection of 2-liter soda bottles for the game.

Ring A Coke Volunteer (2 points for each 2-hour shift)

Volunteers are needed to cover each shift in our school-sponsored game booth.  The volunteer positions for the Bazaar will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families prior to the event.

House Activities

STCS has a House system to aid in the growth of our students’ mental, spiritual, physical, and social development.  A House system is a common feature of academically rigorous schools in England and America.  Beginning in 5^th grade, students are selected to be members of one of three houses—The House of Hildegaard, The House of Thomas More, or The House of Boethius—named after three saints of the Western intellectual and spiritual tradition who made soaring contributions to the contemplation of man’s place in the universe and his relationship to his fellow man.  This structure provides a way for students to have a sense of camaraderie and support that does not evolve into cliques. House volunteers are needed for the following activities:

House Field Tournament (5 Points per day)

Chaperones needed for this 2-day, overnight retreat for 6^th-8^th graders.  This event is held each year in the Fall and House members compete in various physical competitions.

Community Service Projects – Volunteers needed at various times throughout the year.  Volunteer positions will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families shortly before the day of the event.  Points are not awarded for Community Service Projects.

Field Trip Chaperone (2 points)

Field trips enrich the instructional program by taking advantage of the outstanding educational resources in our community, these outings supplement classroom study.  Teachers shall coordinate field trip plans and arrange for additional parent chaperones, working closely with the Office Coordinator.

Retreat Volunteers (5 points for 1 day)

Volunteers are needed to assist and chaperone in the 4^th and 5^th grade retreat each year.  This event is a one-day retreat held on the school campus.

Lunch Volunteer (1 point per day)

Volunteers are needed each day for the following:

• Assist younger students as needed.
• Clean tables and chairs after each lunch period.

Carpool Volunteer (1 point per day)

Volunteers are needed each day for the afternoon carpool to assist students during the pick up process.

Mass Volunteer (1 point per Mass)

Volunteers are needed during Friday Mass to sit with each class in the younger age groups and to assist the teacher.

Field Day Volunteer – (2 points)

Field Day is a day of Olympics-inspired field games that focus on friendship, competition, and self-control.  Each class is divided into a Blue Team and a Gold Team for relay races and other tests of balance, coordination, and speed.  The highlight of the event is the ceremonial Torch Relay during which a team of eighth grade runners circle and then pass off the torch to a representative of seventh grade.  Volunteers are needed to:

• Supervise and run the field games.
• Assist with set up and clean up.

Volunteer positions for Field Day will be posted on our Sign Up Genius site and shared with families shortly before the day of the event.

Volunteer Coach for Athletics (20 points)

Volunteers may sign up to coach the school’s various athletic teams. A coach is expected to:

• Maintain timely communication with the Athletic Coordinator on all aspects of the team (i.e., practices, games, game results, problems, etc.)
• Set up and run all practices.
• Attend all team games.

Volunteer Assistant Coach for Athletics (10 points)

Volunteers must sign up to be an Assistant Coach for the school’s various athletic teams.  The Assistant Coach is expected to:

• Assist the Head Coach in running practice and at games.
• Attend all games.