Envision Science Academy�Volunteer Orientation

To Volunteer This Year, You Must:

• View this Volunteer Orientation slideshow and fill out form agreeing you have completed orientation.
• Complete a background check by Background Inquiries and Services
• To drive you must also:
• Submit Insurance Liability Form (to drive)
• Complete Driver’s form

Arriving On Campus

• When arriving on campus, please sign-in at office.
• All external doors to the building are locked.
• To access the school, ring the buzzer to the right of the front door and office staff will assist you.

Identification While On Campus

• After signing in at the front office, you will receive an identification badge.
• Please wear this badge while you are on campus.
• When you leave ESA, stop back by the front �office to check out and return your ID badge.

New Background Checks Needed Each School Year!

• Background checks must be completed and approved each school year. For example, a parent/guardian who completed a background check in April will need an updated background check for this school year.
• Register online with Background Inquiries and Services, then enter “Envision Parent” as the organization (case sensitive) in order for ESA to access your background check.

Children, Siblings and Non-approved Adults

• Because of the possibility of distractions and/or emergencies, siblings/children not enrolled �at ESA, or adults who are not approved �volunteers may not accompany �chaperones or drivers on �the field trip.

Driving on Field Trips Requires Liability Insurance

• Since ESA does not have school buses, chaperones may volunteer to drive their child and/or other students.
• Preference to attend field trips will be given to chaperones who agree to drive multiple students.
• Provide proof of liability insurance with a �minimum of $50,000 per person for bodily injury.

You Need Liability, Even To Drive Your Own Student

• Chaperones driving only their own children on field trips still need to complete the volunteer training, complete a current background check, and submit proof of liability insurance. The only exception is if you are a driver for an extracurricular sporting event, you do not need to show liability insurance if only driving your own child(ren).
• In the interest of student safety, all drivers are, �by default, chaperones on all school sponsored field trips.

Booster Seats

• According to NC Law, students are required to bring a booster/car seat to school for all field trips in grades K-2 UNLESS parents provide documentation to exempt.
• Failure to provide a booster seat or �documentation may cause your �student to miss the trip.

Field Trips

• Prior to chaperoning a field trip, please review the complete field trip procedures and expectations. They may be found here.

You Do Not Need To Be An Approved Volunteer to...

• To eat lunch with your student, please contact teacher.
• If parents/guardians would like to bring a birthday treat (food item, small toy, etc.) to share, they may do so during lunch for all students in the class.
• Food items must be store-bought and display �a label with ingredients listed to protect �those with food allergies.

Parties Outside Of School

• If a student is having a party outside of school, please do not use school time to pass out invitations in class unless the entire class is invited.
• For smaller gatherings outside of school, please �contact the student or their family directly.

Please Limit Cell Phone Use While You Volunteer!

• Video and/or audio recording of classroom visits by parents or guardians is strictly prohibited.
• Electronic devices such as video or audio record should not be visible or used during the visit.
• Violation of this policy may result in removal of volunteer privileges.

Student Confidentiality

• Per the Confidentiality and Ethics Agreement, volunteers are held to strict standards for confidentiality.
• Volunteers must not disclose information about specific students or school information, except with school employees who have a need to know.
• Violation of confidentiality will result in removal of volunteer privileges.

Envision Parents in Action (EPA) -

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• https://weareepa.weebly.com/
• EPA is a non-profit organization that takes an active role in supporting ESA.
• Parents, guardians and staff who want to create meaningful learning experiences for students and support teachers are encouraged to join.
• EPA organizes events, conducts fundraisers, �recruits volunteers, and promotes ESA culture.

Thanks For Your Support of ESA!

• We appreciate your commitment in choosing to entrust the education of your children to ESA.
• Every policy discussed today has been carefully �created to benefit the students at �Envision Science Academy.

Extended Expectations from the Parent Handbook

The purpose of this volunteer policy is to provide a framework to all parents, guardians and visitors to our school for their expected conduct. The expectations are to use effective communication with school staff, administration, and board members that cultivate open dialogue while seeking peaceful solutions to issues. We encourage all visitors to engage the school with an open mind to help resolve any issues of concern. In order to support a peaceful and safe school environment, the school cannot tolerate parents, guardians and visitors exhibiting the following:

• Disruptive actions which interfere or threaten to interfere with the operation of a classroom, an employee’s office, board meeting, school event, field trip, car line or parking lot, office area or any other area of the school grounds (including social media postings or discussions with community members regarding the school or a staff member).
• Using loud or offensive language, swearing, cursing, using profane language or displaying temper on or in the sight of campus.
• Threatening to do actual bodily harm to school staff, board member, visitor, fellow parent/guardian or student regardless of whether or not the action constitutes a criminal offence.
• Damaging or destroying school property.
• Abusive or threatening emails, texts, voicemails, phone messages or other written communication.
• Defamatory, offensive or derogatory comments regarding the school or any of the pupils, parents, staff, or board on Facebook or other social sites. Any concerns you may have about the school must be made through the appropriate channels by speaking to the class teacher, or the admin team, so they can be dealt with fairly, appropriately and effectively for all concerned.
• The use of physical aggression towards an adult or child. This includes physical punishment against your own child on school premises.
• Approaching someone else’s child to discuss or chastise them because of the actions of this child towards their own child.

Final Step

To get credit for this online volunteer orientation please fill out the form found here.

Register online with Background Inquiries and Services to complete your background check. The organization is “Envision Parent” (case sensitive). There is a fee associated with using the service to be paid by the volunteer. You may register here.