Welcome to the MES Volunteer Portal!

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The best way to contact us is through email: volunteer@magnolischoolpta.org

You can also, give your name and contact information to anyone on the PTA at any time and your information will given to the appropriate person. You can also drop off a letter to the PTA at the front office and they will put it in our PTA mailbox.

*Please add the email volunteer@magnoliaschoolpta.org to your contact list. This will help us with responding to you as we have found that our emails sometimes get stuck in email filters.

• Build Community within the School        
• Curriculum support     
• Assemblies
• Host School Events                                     
• Organize Volunteers
• Magnolia Elementary School Spirit Gear
• Emergency Funds for Families
• Enrichment activities (in-school and after school)
• Staff professional development trainings
• Teacher stipends for classroom materials
• Safety patrol
• Yearbook 
• Teacher and Staff Wish lists
• Busses and other Financial support for school trips

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you’ll need to get a national background check from Sterling Volunteers in Good Samaritan. 

1. Will you be working one on one with students while unsupervised (or virtual). For most, this answer is no
2. Have you lived outside of Washington State in the past 3 years?
   If this cost is prohibitive, email president@magnoliaschoolpta.org and we can provide a payment code. Cost should not be a barrier to participation.

If you answered no to these questions, the school will run a background check using the information you’ve already provided and then review your application. 

1. In-person School Volunteers

Volunteers who serve in person on school property.

2. Remote Volunteers

Individuals whose volunteer activities are performed from home, work,  or any location other than the classroom or SPS property. See “Remote  Volunteers” section of the SPS Volunteer handbook for additional information. 

3. Field Trip Volunteer

• An approved school volunteer can be recruited to volunteer in support of field trips. 
• Field trip volunteers typically meet staff in the school building  prior to departing by bus, in their personal vehicle or on feet  (neighborhood walking field trips). 
• Field trip volunteer roles include chaperones and drivers.
• Unlike school volunteers, volunteers who support field trips are  entrusted with student supervision responsibilities. In addition to  completing the requirements for school volunteers, chaperones and field  trip drivers must learn about safety and understand SPS student  supervision guidelines.

4. Self Help Volunteer

Self-Help volunteers work on projects that benefit the entire school community and they do not work with students directly. Volunteer at schools more than once a year, or on an ongoing basis with Self Help Projects. Self Help volunteers may serve as hosts for Event Volunteers.

https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/self-help-project/

1. PTA Executive Board Volunteers - These volunteers are voted in and run the PTA.

2. PTA Board Volunteers - These volunteers help with PTA tasks on different teams.

3. Event Volunteer Leads - Organize specific events.

4. Event Volunteers - help with events.

5. PTA Task Volunteers - help with specific PTA tasks

Do you need volunteers for your school activity or event? The MES PTA are  here to help get the word out and manage volunteers. Our centralized SIGNUPGENIUS.COM Page, where you can go to find all Magnolia Elementary Schools current volunteer needs.

To get your event on this centralized page, you can either:

1. Create your own SignUpGenius for your event, and then please transfer it to volunteers@magnoliaschoolpta.org after it’s been created. Click here for how to transfer your signupgenius.com sign-up form.
2. Have us create the SignUpGenius form for you. Please fill out this intake form, a PTA member will be in contact with you once it is done or if clarification is needed.

Here is the link to our SIGNUPGENIUS.COM volunteer sign-ups.

All events can be added to the Magnolia Elementary School PTA website and calendar. We list events in  the bi-weekly Orca Tales PTA Newsletter. Please fill out this events/news intake form.

Our Website has the most information about the PTA, please read through the pages to learn more. Also, feel free to chat with the PTA when you see us around the school or contact us via email. You can reach any of the PTA Board members form our contacts list.

Volunteer Guidelines: All volunteers and visitors must observe these guidelines when volunteering. Thank you!

• Sign IN and OUT in the main office every time you volunteer or visit the school.
• You must wear your Volunteer ID Sticker while at school during school hours.  (7:55 am to 2:25 pm, WED - 7:55 am to 1:10 pm) 
• All Volunteers are expected to follow school FIRMS.
• Volunteer for the WHOLE CLASSROOM, not just your child. 
• Try to be QUIET and unobtrusive in the classroom. Focus on your task and limit talking with other adults (it’s distracting to the class). 
• Academic instruction must be left to certificated classroom personnel (district regulations). Volunteers provide GENERAL HELP AND SUPPORT. 
• Respect CONFIDENTIALITY. Protect and respect information you see or hear, especially pertaining to a student’s work, behavior, or background. 
• Be courteous, exhibit good behavior, and otherwise PROVIDE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL for our students. 
• Keep CELL PHONES OFF or on vibrate. If you need to take a call, please do so outside of the classroom. 
• While in the hall, SPEAK SOFTLY and stay clear of doorways. Voices carry into the classrooms and are distracting to students and teachers. 
• CONSULT THE TEACHER before bringing younger siblings or other children into the classroom with you when you volunteer. 
• Some teachers do not use volunteers in the classroom, but appreciate help OUTSIDE OF CLASS. Check with each teacher about his/her needs..

Here are links to important reads for volunteering at MES and SPS: 

MES Volunteer Orientation slides pdf

SPS volunteer handbook 

Positive Parenting

Tolerance Social Justice Standards