"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Parent Volunteers,

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for volunteering your time to be a part of our learning community. Point Dume Marine Science School (PDMSS) welcomes and encourages parent volunteers as an important component in the home-school connection. We believe that parents enhance the learning experiences for students. The more you know about what takes place during the school day, the more you can continue and expand upon the learning at home. Your involvement helps us to maintain a safe, secure, and nurturing learning environment for all of our students and staff.

It is a valuable experience to work in the classroom for both parents and for our children. It enables parents to become familiar with daily activities, which occur in the classroom and in the school. It also provides an opportunity for the teacher to work with smaller groups of students.

Before you begin a volunteer shift during the school day, you must always sign in at the front office in our volunteer book, wear a volunteer badge and show up to the classroom on time. All students have been instructed to help with this by giving reminders to our parent volunteers. When you end your volunteer shift, make sure that you sign out in the office as well. Documentation allows us to track volunteer hours and maintains a safe environment where all visitors check in and out at the office (per Santa Monica Malibu School District policy).

I want you to know that you may be surprised by your child's behavior when you are in the class. Some parents expect their child to be "clingy" and instead find their child independent and busy. Some children's behavior deteriorates when parents are in the class. Please remind your child that when you are volunteering that you are there for all students. This will help your child understand that you will work for and with the teacher.

Younger siblings are NOT allowed during volunteer time, field trips or class parties due to liability issues. It is critical that cellular phones, pagers and other electronic devices are turned off when you are volunteering in the classroom. We devote this time to our students, and we need to maintain a constructive learning environment at all times. Remember that you are a classroom volunteer; this is not a parent teacher conference appointment. Once your volunteer shift is complete please know that the teacher still needs to continue teaching. If you have the need to conference about your child, please schedule an appointment so that the teacher can give you the appropriate attention.

If you are scheduled to volunteer, and know ahead of time that you cannot make it on your designated day, please make sure that you inform your child's teacher or try to get the shift covered. Many hours of planning take place to involve all members of the learning community, and we count on your commitment to time and school schedules.

Confidentiality is very important to maintain the integrity of our campus. You will observe many different learning styles, abilities and behaviors. We reserve the right to revoke your volunteer privileges if confidentiality is breeched or your behavior is disruptive to the learning environment. Please do not discuss individual children outside of the classroom. I know that you would not want anyone to speak of your child outside of the classroom environment if issues were to arise, and we know that you will exhibit that same courtesy to others.

You are a vital member of our community, and we are very eager to have you working with us. Thank you for the gift of time and care. They are valuable commodities to all the teachers, staff, and students at PDMSS. When we work together in a positive manner, all of our children benefit.

Thank you,

Chi Kim