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Magnolia Elementary School

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Volunteer Training

2026/2027

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Today’s Agenda

  • Introductions (Kelly/Danialle)
  • Purpose of volunteers at MES (Danielle)
  • Ways to be involved (Danielle)
  • MES Firms and Volunteer Protocol (Kelly)
  • Understanding Neurodiversity (Amy)
  • Next steps for volunteering (Kelly)

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Why is it important to

have volunteers?

  • Community-building
  • MES staff support
  • MES student support

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Volunteer Opportunities

  • Parent/Caregiver Safety Patrol
  • Recess / Lunch Supervision
  • After-school Program
  • Community Events
  • Classroom Parent
  • Classroom Volunteer
  • Field Trips
  • PTA Board member

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We are so glad you are here!��Family volunteers are an invaluable part of a successful school community. Your involvement strengthens the connection between home and school, provides additional support for students and staff, and helps create a welcoming, collaborative learning environment. Whether assisting in classrooms, supporting with lunch and recess supervision or supporting school events, family volunteers contribute to higher student engagement, increased academic success, and a stronger sense of community. Your time, talents, and partnership enrich the educational experience for all students and demonstrate the shared commitment to helping every child thrive.

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MES School-Wide Firms

What are firms?�Why do we have them?�How do we use them with staff and students?

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  Recess Firms

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  Lunchroom Firms

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Active Supervision

  • Walk around without a specific pattern or predictable route or routine and scan with your eyes, unless you have an agreed upon area you are stationed at. 
  • Make positive contacts with students while walking around, saying “hi”, “what’s up”, “I like that shirt”, “how was your weekend”, etc. 
  • Reinforce desired behaviors by making positive remarks to students about it, for example “Thank you for walking in the hallway, that's one of our firms” or “that was very nice of you to pick up that person’s books for them.” 
  • Make interactions with students brief and to the point and keep moving and scanning
  • Correct unwanted behaviors by approaching the student in a non-threatening and non-imposing manner. State the firm they are breaking, get their acknowledgement that they are breaking the rule, and ask them to correct it. 
  • Do not engage in power struggles. 

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Confidentiality

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What do I do when I arrive?

  • Sign-in to the kiosk in the office
  • Take a volunteer badge
  • Take an orange vest
  • Report to duty location
  • Refer to staff outside if you have a question or need to send a student to the nurse or how to respond to a behavior/ conflict
  • Ankita/ Alyssa (Lunchroom) & Candy/Ayu (Recess)

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Next steps to get started