Ridgefield School District believes volunteers provide a valuable experience for our students. Without the help of volunteers like you, we would not be able to accomplish all that we do and many trips would not be possible. We thank you very much for giving your time, your expertise and your support to our students and staff. 

Because student safety is a paramount concern, Washington State law requires that the District conduct a criminal record background check of school volunteers having unsupervised access to children. To accomplish this, all new volunteers must complete a volunteer application and returning volunteers must complete a new application every five years. Volunteers and chaperones must be at least 21 years old. 

Prior to working with students, the supervising staff member will provide you with information regarding your role with regard to the activities planned, expectations for supervising students if any, and emergency procedures. In addition, the following general guidelines are provided to assist you in performing your duties as a volunteer or chaperone. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact the supervising staff member or the building principal. 

Volunteers and chaperones are expected to adhere to District policies, follow directions given by the District's supervising staff member, work cooperatively with other staff and volunteers, and model appropriate behaviors for students. All school rules apply for all District-sponsored trips/events. This includes respecting and maintaining as confidential any personal information pertaining to any student, his/her family or staff member you become aware of as a result of volunteering. In regard to students, if you have reasonable suspicion of any abuse, neglect, sexual harassment, or any illegal or dangerous activities, you are to tell the supervising staff member. He or she will follow up on the information.

While serving as a volunteer or chaperoning District-sponsored trips/events, volunteers may not: 
• Use, sell, provide, possess, or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
• Use any tobacco products on school property, at school-sponsored events, in the presence of, or in the case of chaperones within the sight of students.
• Possess any weapon.
• Administer any medications (prescription or non-prescription) to students. This includes vitamins or cough suppressants.
• Engage in or solicit any activity with a student which does not have a bona fide, legitimate educational, safety, or health reason.

Students are expected to adhere to school rules at all times. Volunteers assist with managing appropriate student behavior as delegated. If asked, you may need to review the rules and standards of student behavior, any necessary safety rules, and any site-specific rules with students. If you need help with student behavior management you are to contact the supervising staff member. If you observe any inappropriate student behavior, including harassment, intimidation or bullying, you are obligated to report this to the supervising staff member. Any discipline of a student should be left up to the supervising staff member. Physical punishment is never permitted.

Students must be supervised at all times while on District-sponsored trips/events. School rules related to student behavior apply. As a chaperone, overseeing appropriate student behavior is your delegated responsibility. You will supervise a small group of students, helping them learn and assisting them in behaving appropriately. Students must stay with you, their chaperone, at all times. Please review the use of the buddy system with students under your care. Account for all participants regularly and before changing activities. Be sure you know when and where to meet the rest of your group at the end of the trip/event. Please review the rules and standards of behavior, any necessary safety rules, and any site-specific rules with students. Please see that students do not get involved in any extra activities that are not pre-arranged by the supervising staff member and approved by the principal and parents. If you need additional support for student behavior management, contact the supervising staff member. You are to be readily available, mindful of safety concerns, and responsive to the students' needs.

For the protection of both the student and the volunteer, a volunteer is not to place himself/herself in a situation in which he/she is alone with a student. Your relationship with any student you become acquainted with must be kept appropriate at all times. Continuing a volunteer relationship through any out-of-school contact, such as phone calls, home visits, or invitations to your home, social events, office, vehicle, or activities is not permitted without a specific directive from a teacher and/or prior written parental permission. This prohibition, of course, does not restrict out-of-school contact with students who are family friends or known to you through other community contacts.

For the protection of both the student and the volunteer, a volunteer must be aware of the protocol for appropriate physical contact with students. Handshakes, "high five's", an arm or hug around a shoulder are the only safe and friendly ways to physically contact a child when you are volunteering. For some children, or for some cultures, even these gestures may be unwelcome. No child should be subject to unwelcome physical contact no matter how well intended. If a child ever inappropriately physically contacts you, please inform the supervising staff member right away. 

VOLUNTEERS ARE ROLE MODELS FOR STUDENTS
Your conversation with students and staff should demonstrate respect for others and avoid language that may be perceived as discriminatory, profane, sexist, or offensive. No student or staff person should ever be treated differently, spoken to disrespectfully or denied services on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability. In addition, school personnel or volunteers must not encourage or promote religious beliefs through class activities, comments or invitations to a place of worship.

Further, any form of sexual harassment of students, staff or other volunteers is prohibited. Sexual harassment occurs when: 
1. Submitting to the harasser's sexual demands is a stated or implied condition of obtaining an education or work opportunity or other benefit;
2. Submission to or rejection of sexual demands is a factor in an academic, work or other school related decision affecting an individual; or
3. Unwelcome sexual or gender-related conduct or communication interferes with an individual's performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
The District takes prompt, equitable and remedial action on any reports, complaints and grievances, either through the informal or formal complaint process. Any retaliation against any person who makes or is a witness in a sexual harassment complaint is prohibited and will be disciplined.

All volunteers are required to sign in and out at the main office of the school and wear a volunteer badge while in the school.

Family members or friends of a chaperone may not participate in a District-sponsored event unless prior approval has been obtained from the principal. Since volunteers must focus on the site-specific work requested of them, the District asks you to refrain from bringing additional family members along to do the volunteer work, unless the circumstance warrants the additional help. Should this be the case, the supervising staff member is to be informed of the additional services to be provided by additional people.

Volunteers who transport students in a personal vehicle must complete the District Private Transportation for School Activities form. As a driver, you are expected to adhere to all District and State student transportation rules and regulations. Please be aware that your personal vehicle insurance must provide primary coverage in the event of an accident or injury.

Emergency Preparedness
Be sure you know what to do in an emergency situation, such as a medical emergency, natural emergency, a missing student or a serious breach of rules or policies. Know who is first aid trained, where the first aid kit is, where the cell phone is kept, and who has the copies of emergency phone numbers and medical information.

You are to report any concerns to the supervising staff member.