Volunteering

VOLUNTEERING AT TMSA

Volunteers are an integral part of our school. We recognize the time, expertise, support, and assistance volunteers provide. Parents and other community citizens are encouraged to volunteer at The Main Street Academy. In an effort to promote a mutually beneficial learning environment between school and home, TMSA parents are encouraged to volunteer during the school year -  15 hours for a two parent household or 10 hours for a single parent household. 

All volunteer opportunities that involve directly working with students on school grounds require a background check, and background checks must be updated every 12 months. For the safety of all students, TMSA requires that the background check must be a Federal and State criminal check and run against the published sex offender list.

*Please note TMSA does not have a designated reporter. Everyone is a mandated reporter, including volunteers.

2019 - 2020 TMSA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

Contact TMSA Parent Liaison, Jamil Pearson, to select one or more opportunities to volunteer your time and talents.

• Black History Month Readers - During the whole month of February 2020,  TMSA family members (moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, everyone) are invited to be guest readers for weekly story times for grades K-2. Email kaitlin.taylor@tmsa.org for volunteer opportunities and dates/timeframes.
• Read Across America - The TMSA community is invited to read to our scholars on Read Across America Day - March 2, 2020 from 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM. Volunteers should plan to visit the class for approximately 45 minutes to read a book and
  share how reading has been a part of your personal and professional life. Click here to sign up to volunteer and read. 
• Spring Book Fair - Email kaitlin.taylor@tmsa.org for parent/guardian volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Dates March 21, 23 - 27, 2020. 
• Room Parent – work with PTO officers to coordinate events, raise funds and distribute information to members of a specific classroom.
• First Friday Mystery Readers -  Surprise a TMSA class by reading a book to the entire class. Contact TMSA's parent liaison, Jamil Pearson, to sign up to be a mystery readers. Dates: September 6th, October 4th, November 1st, and December 6th. Time: 8:00 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.
• Weekly Wednesday Volunteers - Sign up for schoolwide volunteer opportunities that occur every Wednesday (excluding holidays) at TMSA. Click here to sign up for Weekly Wednesday volunteer opportunities. 
• Grade Level Liaison – serve as a point of contact for parent questions and community information. Coordinate social opportunities for parents throughout the year, including grade level coffee and conversations.
• Photography – capture images at TMSA events to be used for social media, public relations, yearbook, etc.
• Parent Engagement Speaker Series – organize 3-4 speakers on subjects that appeal to our parents and collaborate with the Parent Liaison.
• Yearbook – work with yearbook vendor and TMSA faculty members in planning a layout strategy, coordinate photography submissions, and coordinate volunteers for editing.
• Curb Appeal – plant and maintain planters outside the school.
• Diversity Outreach – plan events or educational opportunities that celebrate diversity in our TMSA community and around the world.
• Sunshine Committee – coordinate purchase and delivery of cards for TMSA families and staff.
• Faculty/Staff Birthdays – plan and coordinate small gifts to be given to faculty/staff for their birthday month.
• Grants – research, evaluate and vet grant applications.
• School Spirit – plan and coordinate school spirit raising activities.
• Prospective Parent Social – plan and organize this event in the Fall.
• Rising Kindergarten Social – plan and organize an event for rising kindergarten in June/July to get to know each other.
• Student Transition Events – plan and organize events for students/parents transitioning to middle school (5th to 6th) and high school (8th to 9th).
• Grandparent's Day – work with teachers and administration to coordinate event and volunteers. Typically held in September.
• Winter Holiday Programs – work with teachers and administration to coordinate event and volunteers. Typically held in December.
• Silent Auction – work with auction leaders to organize the event, secure donated items to be sold, and perform set-up and take-down of the event. Typically held in February.
• Art Show – work with teachers and administration to coordinate event and volunteers. Typically held in March.
• Tri-Cities 5K/10K Run/Walk – work the coordinator to solicit sponsors, coordinate volunteers, and communicate with community regarding the event. Typically held in May.
• Field Day – work with teachers and administration to coordinate vendors, lead events, and communicate with parents and students regarding these events. Typically held in May.
• Spring Musical – coordinate committees for selecting a production, setting a schedule, public relations, advertising, ticket sales, rehearsals, and more.
• Bring Your Parent to School Week – work with teachers and administration to coordinate event and volunteers.
• Read Across America Spirit Week – work with teachers and administration to coordinate event and volunteers.
• Boxtops and Coke Rewards – promote these fundraisers and organize prizes (through partner relationships) for top participants.
• Annual Fund – prepare a campaign that runs throughout the school year. Work with various committees to present to parents what the annual fund supports and why they should be a part of it.
• Community Partners – call on local businesses to become a TMSA Partner in Education.

OBTAINING A BACKGROUND CHECK

In addition to a background check, as of July 1, 2013, Georgia law states that all school volunteers are now MANDATED REPORTERS and are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. Please click the link below for the REQUIRED video for all parent volunteers:

• The Child Abuse Course is the second course.
• Add it to your cart.

VOLUNTEERING AT SCHOOL:
LOGGING HOURS & EXPECTATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Parents are responsible for logging all hours earned, and parents should keep track of hours earned for reconciliation purposes.   Go to the following link to log hours:https://www.trackitforward.com/site/main-street-academy

3 Easy Steps

1. Register
2. Download App (optional)
3. Log Hours

When volunteering at the school, all volunteers must sign in and out at the front office.  All volunteers will receive a Parent Volunteer badge, which must be worn at all times, and returned to the front office upon departure.

CONFIDENTIALITY must be kept. Please do not repeat anything you hear regarding students while you are volunteering at school. You should never discuss a student’s grades, progress, or what goes on in the classroom with anyone except the staff.

DISCIPLINE should be left to the staff and administrators. If you are experiencing a problem with a student, please consult the teacher. We expect our children to behave according to our Code of Conduct outlined in the Student Handbook, and we also expect all adults to be models of the Code of Conduct.

When volunteering, please dress comfortably and appropriately. Please remember that when you are in the school, you are a role model as well.

VOLUNTEERING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

When volunteering outside of the school day, please enter your hours online using the Volunteer Hour Entry Log:

https://www.trackitforward.com/site/main-street-academy  

HOW TO VOLUNTEER FROM HOME
Send an email to homeroom, core and/or specials teachers and ask if there is anything you can assist them with.
You can help teachers from your home by making copies, doing cutouts, sorting papers, etc….just don’t forget to do and return the tasks, they are depending on you!