MAINTAINING SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer service time is a source of providing necessary support and services. Your involvement gives you connection with the community that is guiding and nurturing your child. You gain the opportunity of getting to know your child's friends, their families, and the staff.

Each family is required to give a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer time per year.

Purchasing Needs*

• Food Items - snack, food prep, etc.
• Office Supplies - copy paper, pens, paper clips, etc.
• Costco/Sam's Club - paper towels, cups, Ziploc bags, etc.

Classroom Volunteer

• Recess
• Washing Dishes
• Substitute Assistant Teacher (may become a paid position after volunteer hours are fulfilled)
• Help with Special Projects
• Help Make Classroom Materials

Special Talents

• Carpentry
• Sewing
• Gardening
• Painting
• Computer/Technology
• Electrical
• Plumbing

Parent Support

• Spring Fair
• Book Fair
• Other fundraising projects

Year Long Commitments (fulfills volunteer obligations for year)

• Spring Fair Coordinator
• Recess Duty 1 time per week
• Class Laundry 1 time per week

An individual Parent Volunteer Sheet is kept in a binder by the sign-in sheets. You are responsible for recording your volunteer hours on the log sheet. You will be billed for any unfulfilled hours on your last statement for the school year. You may buy out your unfulfilled volunteer commitment at $25 per hour.

SPRING FAIR

This is a fundraising carnival-like event that usually includes raffle and is planned and presented by the parents to raise funds for play yard improvements and maintenance. All parents are required and expected to participate.

• Participating in planning and preparing for Spring Fair counts toward Volunteer Hours.
• Working the day of Spring Fair counts toward Volunteer Hours.

COMMUNICATION

We mostly rely on e-mail for our outgoing communication purposes. Please make sure we have an up-to-date e-mail address on file with us. If you do not use e-mail, please let us know so we can get you paper copies.

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

St. Nicholas Montessori School encourages and promotes continued professional growth and development for all staff. All staff are trained in first-aid, CPR, HIV, and are required by law to report any sign of child abuse or neglect to CPS. Head Teachers hold Montessori certifications and participate in STARS education program, sponsored by DSHS.

To assure excellence and quality for our children the school provides teachers:

• Funding for memberships in professional organizations.
• In-service training within our school environment.
• Paid release time to attend professional conferences.
• Paid release time to observe other school environments.

ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

St. Nicholas Montessori School is staffed with certified teachers that earned their certifications from training programs approved and accredited by Montessori Accreditation Commission for Teacher Education (MACTE) which is recognized by the Federal Bureau of Education. St. Nicholas Montessori School is licensed by the Department of Early Learning.

St. Nicholas Montessori School is a member of the following professional organizations:

• North American Montessori Teacher Association, NAMTA
• Pacific Northwest Montessori Association, PNMA
• National Association for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC