Volunteer Opportunities at St. Mary Catholic School
St. Mary Catholic School welcomes the opportunity to have you as a volunteer.
ALL volunteers at SMCS are required to register and complete the volunteer screening process through VIRTUS, https://www.virtusonline.org. Read more here: http://stmarycatholicschool.org/families-friends/VIRTUS.
Webster defines volunteer as “one who serves or acts of his or her own free will.” Most students will define volunteer as “a person who does something without pay.” Fortunately for SMCS we have many supportive parents, grandparents, and parents of former students who serve of their own free will without pay to help our students and teachers. Passing out milk, decorating the hallways, assisting with supervision at recess, organizing parties, chaperoning field trips, being active members of the HSA, and helping in the classroom are just some of the many valuable services volunteers perform at St. Mary Catholic School. As a school we really appreciate those people who are so caring to make time in their busy schedules to be SMCS volunteers.
Volunteer Opportunities throughout the School Year
Bulletin Board Volunteers
These volunteers work under the supervision of Mrs. Renken, decorating the bulletin boards that line the hallways of the school.
Homeroom Parents
These volunteers help their children’s teachers with planning and assisting activities such as parties, field trips, and the teacher’s requests. Other activities may come up throughout the year at the discretion of the teacher. The time commitment ranges from 2-3 hours per month on average; exact times may vary.
Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee is a group of parents and teachers who work with Mrs. Lebedda and the Principal to promote St. Mary Catholic School in the Community.
Welcome Wagon
A team of committed SMCS families who ensure all new families feel embraced and welcomed into this nurturing community. Throughout the year, these families will reach out and introduce themselves to new families, attend school events and take time to invite these families while making them feel welcome at the events, follow up with these families at the end of the year, and most importantly, be a familiar face in the crowd!
Middle School Dances
The Student Council sponsors a Middle School Dance each trimester. Middle school parents are needed to chaperone at the dances. Ideally, interested parents will be invited to chaperone at least one dance while their child is in middle school.
Middle School Social Hours
On select Fridays during the year, Middle School Students are welcome to attend an after school social in the Bosco Room. Students can socialize, play pool or games, watch movies, or play basketball. Parent chaperones are needed to oversee the activities.
Playground Supervision
Parent volunteers are needed for playground supervision after all lunches. The teacher and volunteer will have Two-Way radios for immediate communication with the office, should an emergency arise. You may choose to work once a month, twice a month, weekly, or any schedule that suits you.
Cafeteria Coverage
These volunteers are needed each day that lunch is served. The volunteers will assist the cafeteria staff by preparing lunch trays as needed, distributing milk, and selling drinks, ice cream, and snacks. Lunch shift volunteers are needed from 11:30-1:15.
Scrip
This committee handles the purchase of Scrip cards. Volunteers are needed to tally forms, compute profits, and fill orders. The committee meets twice a week when Scrip orders are due (see calendar). The time commitment is four hours on processing days and two hours when the orders are filled.
Used Uniform Sales
Gently worn used uniforms are available for purchase throughout the year. Volunteers are needed periodically to sort new donations and straighten the shelves.
Volunteer Opportunities Once A Year
Auction
The Home and School Association hosts an adult-only event in the Fall each year. The event is always filled with fun and good company. This one event is expected to fund the HSA budget as well as provide tuition offset support and enhancements to the school. All families are asked to support this major event in one way or another.
Pancake Breakfast
Saint Mary Catholic School kicks off Catholic Schools Week with the annual Pancake Breakfast, held the Saturday before Catholic Schools Week. Volunteers are needed to set-up the cafeteria, prepare and serve the breakfast on Saturday, and clean-up afterward. Parent volunteers are welcome.
Scholastic Book Fair
This committee coordinates the Book Fair that occurs during Catholic Schools Week each year. The Fair begins during the Pancake Breakfast on Saturday and continues Monday through Wednesday. Volunteers are needed to check in the order upon its arrival, open and set up the book cases, display items on tables, assist the children with their shopping, help with totaling and payment of purchases, take inventory after the sale, and box up items for return shipping.
Chili Dinner
The HSA sponsors a Chili Dinner for students and their families in January. A delicious meal, lively games, and good company are enjoyed by all in attendance. Volunteers help with sending out flyers, collecting monies, purchasing foods, preparing the meals, set-up, serving and clean-up.
Dessert Social
In conjunction with the Middle School Science/Social Studies Fair, HSA hosts a Dessert Social in the spring. Tasty treats, great company, and amazing projects are sure to be highlights of the evening.
Thanksgiving Lunch
This St. Mary Catholic School tradition takes place during a lunch time in November. Families are invited to join their students for a catered lunch in the cafeteria. Volunteers are needed to collect reservations and payments, set-up, decorate, assist during the lunch itself, and clean-up. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event.
Catholic Schools Week
As a school community, we are given so many opportunities to come together and celebrate Catholic education at St. Mary Catholic School during Catholic Schools Week. The Pancake Breakfast, Career Day, Brokers’ Breakfast, Dignitaries Luncheon, Volunteer Reception, Parent Visitation Day, Student Appreciation Day, Talent Show, Grandparent Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, and First Friday Mass encourage us to gather as a community and reaffirm why Catholic education at SMCS is so important for our children. Faith, academics, service, family, and tradition are core components to our mission as a school and are evidenced throughout the week.
Pixie Shop
As Christmas approaches, many wonderful parent volunteer elves host the Pixie Shop. Students from all grades are invited to shop for those special people on their lists. Our students (and staff) are always amazed with the way Fatima Hall is transformed into a Christmas boutique filled with cool gifts at really low prices. Join us and get in the holiday mood!
Family BINGO Night
Come enjoy dinner and an evening of fun for the whole family. Meal includes pizza and drinks. Following dinner, we will play 12 bingo games for great kid-friendly prizes. Registration forms are sent home prior to the event and is limited to the first 50 families.
Fun Night
The HSA and the Student Council host St. Mary’s Annual Fun Night. Proceeds benefit St. Mary Catholic School HSA. This special event includes music, games, good food, the moon bounce, popcorn, and cotton candy. Volunteers are needed to help students run their class games.
Rummage Sale
This is an opportunity to donate your unwanted treasures and earn money for St. Mary Catholic School. A grand event that surpasses even the largest yard sale, SMCS Annual Rummage Sales offer a service to the community and a successful fundraiser for the school. Numerous volunteers are needed to make this event a success!
Mummer’s Parade
St. Mary Catholic School participates each year in the Alsatia Club Mummer’s Parade. Volunteers are needed to help construct the float as well as chaperone during the event.
RACE 4 TECHNOLOGY
Pre-K through eighth grade students participate in this fundraising endeavor that helps support technology. Students walk along the Cultural Trail. Funds from this event have been used to purchase iPads, kick off the middle school 1:1 Chromebook initiative as well as replace outdated SMART Boards with BenQ interactive display screens.
Antietam Recreation Day
SMCS students in kindergarten through eighth grade spend the day at Antietam Recreation. Activities include swimming in the heated pool, cable ride, carousel swing ride, boat slide, pony rides, moon bounce, giant rope swing, petting zoo, tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, air hockey, Burma Bridge, barge, and canoeing. Wagon rides and bombardment games will be held at designated times. Many volunteers are needed for this special event. The Annual SMCS Fun Run is held at 8:00 A.M.