Volunteers

West Ridge Academy loves to have volunteers! In order for our school to be successful, we need the help of our amazing volunteers. There are many ways for you to help. Parent volunteers are an integral part of West Ridge Academy.

Parent Involvement, Observation, and Volunteering

Parents are not only welcome; they are crucial if we are to have high-quality teaching of the entire curriculum each year. Parent-volunteer activities are coordinated by the individual teachers and front office staff.
All families are encouraged to complete 20 hours of volunteer time each school year.
Parents who wish to be volunteering in the classroom need to learn the teaching style of the teacher they wish to assist. If the teaching style conflicts with the parent’s volunteering style, the parent will need to either adjust his or her style or find a more compatible setting within West Ridge to volunteer.
The teacher has primary responsibility for the classroom and student learning within the classroom.
The teacher’s “individual teaching style” sets the tone for the classroom. This includes everything from delivery of the educational program to classroom management.
Any grievance or concern a parent has with a classroom or a teacher will be handled by the procedures defined the WRA Student Handbook.
Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE is it acceptable for a parent volunteer to confront a teacher about an issue “in the classroom, or any other part of the school, when students are present.”
All disciplinary actions are the responsibility of the teacher and teachers aid.
West Ridge encourages every adult—parents, stepparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—to take a special interest in the lives of West Ridge’s students, to act as mentors and tutors, and to instill in every student a love of learning.

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Volunteers at West Ridge Academy shall:

Be on-time and reliable in fulfilling volunteer commitments.
Exercise kindness while volunteering for West Ridge.
Respect and abide by the confidential nature of anything they might see or hear while volunteering.
Be prompt and dependable for the times they agree to volunteer.
Conduct themselves in a businesslike and fair manner, without partiality to individual students.
Motivate children to work and help them succeed in school.
Graciously accept direction and constructive criticism from staff members for which they are volunteering.
Acknowledge the teacher as the authority in the classroom.
Not confront a teacher regarding disagreements or differences of opinion in the presence of children.
Be respectful of the classroom by not disrupting a teacher’s instructional time or student learning.
Schedule all in-classroom volunteer hours through the classroom’s volunteer coordinator (CVC) or the teacher.
Dress modestly and appropriately for a school environment (i.e. Midriff covered, no short shorts/skirts, workout wear, no spaghetti straps).
Wear a current volunteer nametag at all times when volunteering at the school.
Sign in and out at the front office when volunteering at the school.
Record all WRA volunteer hours, including those worked outside of school, on the logbook in the front office.
Ensure each child in the car has a properly functioning seatbelt when transporting students.
Provide a copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance to the front office if transporting students before the day of the event.
Ensure all children (e.g. younger siblings, non-students) accompanying the volunteer on school premises are supervised at all times. Children may only accompany volunteers in the copy room, health office, lunchroom, hallways and at recess.
Arrange for a replacement in the event the volunteer cannot meet their scheduled obligations.
Call the school (970-330-3671) 24 hours in advance and inform appropriate staff of any volunteer replacements.