Volunteer

Volunteers make a BIG difference

Thank you volunteers!

When volunteers commit to serving at a school, students achieve higher grades, have access to more opportunities, and gain community connections to help them thrive.

Edmonds School District serves 20,000 children and youth - we are committed to carefully screening volunteer candidates to ensure student safety as required by law, District policies and the Washington Schools Risk Management Pool.

Apply to Volunteer

Please visit the new website through Safe Visitor Solutions:

Online volunteer process

You will be notified by email when you are approved. Please allow up to two weeks for the approval process.

Once approved, you will need to schedule volunteering at your school of choice. Please print your badge or have it up on your phone to be able to show office staff.

Approved volunteers will stay active for one calendar year from application approval. 

GUIDELINES FOR FIELD TRIP LEAD STAFF MEMBER

1. Review District Field Trip Policy and Procedures 2320. 
2. Start recruiting early, as most parents' schedules are busy. Share the date of the field trip far in advance to allow parents to make plans.
3. Highlight the trip's benefits and how parents can be directly involved in their child's learning. Parents are more likely to sign up to be chaperoned if they realize that their presence will make a positive impact on their child's educational experience.
4. Describe the trip in detail to encourage parents to participate. Discuss the itinerary, logistics, and any chaperone requirements. Provide the schedule/itinerary for the trip, as well as any maps or directions needed. This can also help ensure that chaperones are prepared for the trip. Remind chaperones of essentials to bring for the trip, such as lunch, if not provided. 
5. If students are required to complete an assignment during the field trip, provide chaperones with that homework.
6. Create Emergency Plans including: 
   1. Provide chaperones with contact information for emergencies and last-minute changes.
   2. The name of the First Aid/CPR certified staff member and the person responsible for keeping the first aid kit. 
   3. Communication plan including defining emergency services accessibility and estimated length of response time.
   4. A buddy system or small group check-in procedure.
   5. Attendance procedures
   6. Accident procedures, including completing a student accident report (form #S-130).
   7. Contingency plans for chaperone emergencies/illness, transportation disruption, or unplanned student 1:1 situation such as illness or injury. 
7. Introduce chaperones to each other and encourage their involvement once you reach your field trip destination – chaperones should not be bystanders.
8. Ensure there are enough adult chaperones for the trip. The required ratio of chaperones to students is 1:10. Depending on the students or the nature of the trip and activities, the number of chaperones may need to be higher. Factors to consider include:
   1. Activities involved: a field trip that involves water activities should require a higher chaperone-to-student ratio.
   2. Mode of transportation, e.g., if part of the trip involves the use of public transportation.
   3. Number of people at the venue, e.g., it would be easier to keep track of students in your care at a museum than it would be in a theme park.
      1. Public patrons? Age of other patrons?
      2. Any alcohol in the area? 
      3. Public locker rooms/bathrooms?
   4. Any behavioral or medical issues of students.
   5. Sightlines- does the activity or location inherently impede sightlines that may warrant additional supervision? 
9. Consider assigning parent chaperones to groups with their child. Parent chaperones should lead groups that include their child to make the day more fun for them both. Children are also more likely to behave when their parents are around.
10. If the trip is mixed-gender, ensure at least one of each gender-appropriate adult is with the group. (Ref. Gender Inclusive Schools 3211P). 
11. Thank your chaperones after the trip. Thanking chaperones ensures that they don't feel like mere babysitters. Chaperoning should be more than just herding students around. It should be a way for parents to connect with their child’s education and experience the interactive learning from which their child benefits.

 

GUIDELINES FOR CHAPERONES

Field trips provide a valuable educational experience for our students. By volunteering to serve as a chaperone, you will help extend the regular curriculum beyond the classroom and the school. Your role as a chaperone is important, and while enjoyable, it requires you to accept certain responsibilities. In order to help ensure that field trips result in safe and rewarding experiences for all participants, we have prepared the following guidelines about volunteering as a field trip chaperone.

Chaperone responsibilities:

1. Chaperones will meet with the lead staff before the field trip to discuss:

1. Nature of the trip and activities involved in the trip;
2. Chaperone expectations, responsibilities, and emergency procedures.

2. Chaperones need to familiarize themselves with the instructions given to the students prior to the trip and enforce those instructions throughout the trip. All school rules apply to school-sponsored field trips. Chaperones are expected to follow school rules, follow the directions given by the lead staff, work cooperatively with other chaperones and school staff members, and serve as role models for students. The chaperone will follow the trip plan developed by the lead staff.  

3. Student behavior is the chaperone's responsibility. Go over rules and standards of behavior, safety rules, and any site-specific rules with students. While you are responsible for student behavior, it is the teacher's responsibility to discipline a student. It is the chaperone's responsibility to report any inappropriate behavior violations to the lead staff. 

4. Chaperones must be on time. Trips are planned to depart and return to school at specified times and delays may disrupt the field trip for everyone. 

5. If you have to cancel, give the lead staff as much notice as possible and help find a replacement.

6. Dress appropriately for the destination and wear comfortable shoes.

7. The students in each assigned group are the chaperone's responsibility.

8. Chaperones must ensure that all students are present before moving from one place to another and immediately report any missing students. 

9. Chaperones must ensure communication with students is clear and firm. When in doubt, overcommunicate. 

10. Students must remain with their chaperone at all times. Chaperones must be easily accessible, attentive to safety considerations, and responsive to students' requirements.
    1. Learn the names and faces of every student in your care, and be sure they know you, too. 
    2. Take frequent head counts of students, particularly when moving to a new location. 
    3. Review the buddy system with students under your supervision.
    4. Regularly keep track of all participants and confirm their whereabouts before transitioning to new activities. 
    5. Ensure that you are aware of the designated time and location for reuniting with the rest of your group at the conclusion of the visit.
    6. When your group travels, space adults out so that there is always an adult in front, behind, and in the middle of the group. 
    7. Assign student partners within each group to increase students’ accountability and minimize the chance of losing someone along the way.  

11. Be clear on what to do in the event of an emergency, including a medical emergency, natural emergency, lost child, serious breach of rule, etc.
    1. Upon arriving at your destination, locate first aid stations and bathrooms. 
    2. Identify who is first aid trained, where the first aid kit is, and who has copies of parental permission slips with emergency phone numbers and medical information.
    3. Familiarize yourself with any student-specific needs within your group, including allergies, dietary requirements, etc. 

12. Drinking alcoholic beverages, use of controlled substances, smoking or use of tobacco products, or carrying weapons by a chaperone at any time during a trip is prohibited. (Ref-Policy and Procedures 4210 and 4215)

13. Chaperones must not dispense medicine to students.

14. Chaperones are to check rooms by entering them to ensure all students are in at curfew; check periodically to ensure lights are out at the designated time; visit with the students to ensure that no students have consumed drugs, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; and remind them of the rules when necessary. 

15. Keep the students as engaged as you can, participate in the activities, and support the lead staff’s decisions. If you do disagree with something they say, speak to them about it privately. 

16. Chaperones should not be alone with students for the protection of both the student and the chaperone.

17. As a chaperone, do not photograph/video or use other electronic media with students. Please be aware that some students have photo restrictions. This means their parents have formally requested that they not be photographed at school or during school activities. 

18. It is important to have a cell phone on you at all times in the event of an emergency, but please refrain from using it to engage in business or personal matters while supervising children. Do not take phone calls or text while driving.

Do not conduct outside work or read while you are supervising students. We also ask that you refrain from chatting with other adults while you are supervising children.

19. Chaperones may only bring siblings of participating students or other persons on a field trip if they are a member of the class or group participating in the trip.

20. Chaperones may not deviate from the established itinerary.

21. Sensitive information chaperones may learn about a student’s abilities, relationships, or background must be kept confidential. At the same time, familiarize yourself with the district's policy on Child Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention (Policy 3421).

22. When transporting students, they need to stay with the group, not make unauthorized stops unless there is an emergency, not skip planned stops, and make sure that all students are wearing seatbelts.

Thank you once again for helping to enhance the educational experience of our students.

 

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