Volunteer Opportunities
When you become a volunteer, your work takes on special significance -- though you are not part of the staff, you do share the same responsibilities of keeping students safe. School volunteers may be parents or community members. Volunteers can be utilized in a variety of situations in schools, ranging from one time only events to monthly, weekly or daily commitments. They may provide tutorial help, monitor lunchrooms, assist in the libraries, lunchrooms or playgrounds.
Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Madison School Community Recreation (MSCR) are using an automated volunteer management program called Volunteer Tracker where you will be able to select schools where you wish to serve and identify activities that you would like to participate in when volunteering. Also, using the Log My Time feature in Volunteer Tracker, you will be amazed at the number of hours that you contribute to schools. Register today in the MMSD/MSCR Volunteer Tracker program!
To enroll:
Step 1) Visit our Volunteer Tracker
Step 2) Read the general information on volunteering and click the link for the Volunteer Tracker Application.
Step 3) Click on the green, “New to the App-Garden? Click Here to Register” link. Enter your email address, create a password and Register. An activation email will be sent to your email address to validate your account.
Step 4) Finish your application. You will receive an email shortly once approved.
If you have questions, please contact your school. Thank you for playing an important part of our school community.
Volunteer Orientation and Training:
Food Pantry Assistant
Position Purpose: Volunteers assist in the operations of in-school food pantry.
May include but are not limited to the following:
-
Help stock, inventory and arrange food
-
Greet and assist patrons
-
May occasionally need to lift up to 15 pounds
Time Commitment: Mondays, 7:30-10:30AM. – 3 hours weekly; A weekly commitment is preferred.
Contact: Tang Yang at tcyang@madison.k12.wi.us or Joel Wish at (608) 228-9389 or joelwish1@gmail.com
Literacy Tutor
Position Purpose: Volunteers are matched 1:1 with a student to work on literacy skills. Volunteer tutors work with students consistently throughout the semester or year on literacy. The purpose of this position is to help support literacy skills to ensure that students are successful learners. Specific reading resources and curriculum will be provided by the supervising teacher.
Position Responsibilities:
-
Volunteers are matched 1:1 with a student to engage in reading activities.
-
Dedicate at least an hour a week to tutor.
Time Commitment: 30 minutes - 1 hour per week or more, Monday - Friday, mornings and afternoons during the Literacy Block
Contact: Schools of Hope Tutor Coordinator
Math Tutor
Position Purpose:
Extra set of hands…...The purpose of this position is to assist students in engaging with learning through mathematics. Math tutors will be matched one-on-one or small groups to support math skills to ensure that students are successful learners.
Volunteers will complete a wide range of duties which are likely to vary from day to day. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
-
Circulating throughout the classroom while the teacher is giving the core lesson for the day
-
Working with one-on-one or with small groups of students throughout the classroom to gain confidence and competence in mathematics.
-
Be a caring adult who is there to listen to their mathematical reasoning, ask questions to guide their thinking, and help them experience success in mathematics
Math resources will be available online and through the supervising teacher.
Time Commitment: 30 minutes - 1 hour/weekly, Monday - Friday, mornings/afternoons during the Math Section
Contact: Classroom teacher & Math/Technology Coach
Mentor
Position Purpose: A mentor volunteer is a caring and responsible adult who serves as a trusted support and guide to an MMSD student. Mentors serve as positive role models, help students explore who they are and who they want to become, and motivate students to become their best. They offer students exposure to new opportunities and perspectives. Mentors support students in making positive life choices, developing essential academic and life skills, and becoming college, career and community ready. Mentors are not case managers or therapists. They are caring adults who are committed to and skilled at building relationships with young people.
Position Responsibilities:
-
Commit to spending at least one school year in a relationship with a single student
-
Meet with mentee(s) for at least 2-6 hours per month on the school site
-
Engage in relationship-building and asset-building activities during time with mentee(s) (e.g. games, sports, conversation, journaling, art, crafts, problem-solving, homework help, having lunch, etc.)
Time Commitment: 30 minutes - 1 hour/weekly, Monday - Friday, mornings/afternoons; Meet with mentee(s) for at least 2-6 hours per month on the school site
Contact: Hawthorne School Psychologist and/or Social Worker
Classroom Assistant
Position Purpose: Volunteers serving as General Classroom Assistants are an extra set of hands for the classroom teacher.
Volunteers will complete a wide range of duties which are likely to vary from day to day. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
-
creating bulletin board displays
-
photocopying materials
-
collating
-
prepping project materials
-
sorting or organizing classroom materials
-
reading with students
-
working with small groups of students
Time Commitment: Monday - Friday, 8:15 - 3:45 p.m. - Flexible times; A weekly commitment is preferred.
Contact: Classroom Teacher
Field Trip Chaperone
Position Purpose: The Field Trip Chaperone allows the teacher to design a field trip to meet the needs of the classroom/students (large group or small group break outs). The Field Trip Chaperone are another responsible adult and extension of the school community who provides support to the teacher and students.
Position Responsibilities:
-
Arrive on time;
-
Efficiently manage small groups of students;
-
ability to follow directions of the field trip coordination or field trip location (ie the zoo staff, the planetarium staff);
-
follow protocols and safety guidelines of the transportation and help students in your group to follow the safety guidelines.
-
No volunteers should ever be escorting students alone to the bathroom.
Time Commitment: Occasionally, as needed. During the school day between the hours of 7:45a.m. - 2:30p.m., during the school calendar (September - June with increased times of October, November, May and June)
Contact: Classroom Teacher
Outdoor Learning Space/Garden Volunteer
Position Purpose: The School Garden Volunteer demonstrate an ongoing commitment to planting and long term upkeep of the outdoor learning space and garden areas.
Position Responsibilities:
-
Submit a design and maintenance plan
-
Work with school administration to determine what budgetary funds are available for the purchase of plant, and landscape materials
-
Plant, water, weed, mulch garden.
-
Litter removal
Time Commitment: Flexible
Contact: Principal
One-Time Special Event Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions to help make these the School and PTO events successful: set-up, take down, food preparation, food service, solicit donations, leading activities
-
Picture Day
-
Field Day
-
Read Your Heart Out
-
Fun Run
-
Academic Success Nights
The Hawthorne community hosts a number of valuable family and community engagement events throughout the year and welcome volunteers.
MSCR - After School Academic Center of Excellence (AACE) After School Volunteers
Madison School and Community Recreation’s AACE after school program meets daily from October through May from the end of school until 5:30pm. Students in 1st through 5th grade are engaged in a variety of enrichment clubs and academic opportunities provided by teachers and program leaders. Volunteers can assist with homework support, playing and working with students.
Time Commitment: Monday-Friday, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Leadership Opportunities
Volunteer leaders are also needed to participate in the following committees:
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The Hawthorne Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) exists to support families, students and staff at Hawthorne.
Community School Committee
A Community School is a welcoming and inclusive place that builds on the assets of the community to help serve the identified needs of the students, families and community through well integrated and coordinated, strategic partnerships. Leopold’s Community School Committee is a voluntary group of staff, parents, community organizations, and other valuable community stakeholders. The Committee meets monthly for 2 hours to discuss and make decisions in relation to the programs, services, and direction of partnerships within our school.