When we all share some of the load, we can make volunteering easy, fun, and an offering for the betterment of others.  Call Amy at (937) 548-2345 or e-mail ahadden@smsgvl.com for more information.

Volunteer to Help Our School & Our Kids

We recognize that parents are the primary educators of their children, and we encourage you to be involved with St. Mary’s in substantial ways.  With your involvement, together we can build a better school community.  Without your involvement, there simply are not enough financial or human resources available to compensate.

• Your child benefits.  When parents are connected to the school, children do better.  Research shows children whose parents are involved get better grades, do better on tests, and have fewer discipline problems at school.

• We make a difference.  We provide support for teachers in and out of the classroom.  We provide resources they need.  We help create learning opportunities for children.  And we try to build the kind of supportive, caring atmosphere that makes school fun.

• We pledge to honor your time constraints.  People are often reluctant to participate because they are afraid they will be pulled into a black hole of never-ending time commitment.  That will not happen here.  We will not push you to commit more than you want to or are able to.

• We have fun!  Volunteer work should not be drudgery.  We accomplish a lot, and not everything we do is easy.  But we know we’re not balancing the national debt, either.  We do not take ourselves too seriously, and we try to enjoy ourselves along the way whenever possible.

• Meet nice people who share your concerns.  We all have a common bond.  We care about creating the best possible educational experience for our children.  We are neighbors and peers who share many of the same experiences.  Many friendships have developed as a result of those connections.

• There is a lot to be done.  These days, schools are asked to do more with less.  Our help is needed more than ever to fill the gaps.

• We match jobs to your interests and abilities.  Volunteers cover a broad spectrum: basic office assistance, planning and executing events, working with students, managing programs, and more.  We are thrilled to have people take on tasks that meet their skills and interests.

• We are welcoming.  To us, there are no “outsiders.”  We are people who have come together to work toward common goals.  We could not be happier to have you join us.

• We are about parent involvement, not fundraising.  Our #1 goal is to get more parents connected to the school.  That is because studies show that building parent involvement is the number one thing we can do to create a great school and improve student performance.

• This work is rewarding.  It is seeing the bright light of learning sparkle in a child’s eye.  It’s seeing the smile that shows we’re making school a little more fun—and a child feel a little more comfortable in a learning environment.  It is knowing we played a role.  There are many rewards, both big and small, for those who get involved.

Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to: classroom helper, room parent, playground duty, cafeteria duty, family fun events, auction committee, field trip chaperone.