Volunteer Opportunities

There are a huge variety of opportunities to get involved in your child’s education by volunteering your time and talents at St. Paul’s. Whatever you can do and participate in benefits all of us and helps to keep our school running smoothly. The list below incudes things you can do to help during school hours, after school and at home. If you see something you’re interested in and want more information and details (such as specifics of responsibilities and time commitment) please contact the listed chairperson or activity coordinator.

Any volunteer, no matter in which capacity, is required to partake in the mandatory Diocese of Grand Rapids VIRTUS training course. It is a one-time, approximately three hour class at local churches in the evening on how we can protect our children. Registration is simple and done online.

Go to Diocese of Grand Rapids website and scroll to the middle section., “NEWS & RESOURCES”. Under that you’ll see “Child & Youth Protection” where you should find “Protecting Gods Children Awareness Sessions”.

Once you have completed it, you will be on a list that states you are now able to volunteer in the classrooms, go on field trips, help in a reading corner… EVERYONE MUST DO THIS!

There are plenty of possible volunteer opportunities:

• Home & School: Meets once a month, usually the Second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at school with the exceptions of November and December (Full calendar is available on the school calendar on the website): They raise money to use throughout the school year to keep costs down for school activities and much more. Volunteers are needed to help with: Secret Santa (December), Catholic Schools Week (February), Head Room Parents, Class Parties, Teacher lunches/dinners during Conferences (Lori Daum 954-1776), Muffins with Moms/Doughnuts with Dads (fall & spring), roller skating party (11/22/10), annual wreath sale (Denice Pavey 868-6940 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and Garage Sale (April 15-16 with set up on the 14th).

Home & School Co-Chairs for 2010 are Beth Ann Fausone 949-4055 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and Colleen Cleves 248-4739 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• School Board: Meets once a month on the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at school. This is a 3 year commitment (three new members come in and exit each year) in which we work with our principal, Lori Salva, to keep our school on the up and up with several committees such as: finance, marketing, school enhancement, grants and fund raising, policy, and technology.

School Board President: Steve Cole – 676-9145 – (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• SPAuction (St. Paul Auction): Our annual event for the entire school and parish… We raised $50,000 last year and put part of that money toward installing our Smart Boards in several classrooms! One evening with a huge amount of preparation by a fantastic team of people. The SPAuction will be held on Friday, February 10th, 2012. Theme: Peace, Love SPAuction.

SPAuction Chair team: Dorothy Cole, Ellen Clark, Jill Lauria, Roxanne Maitner

Some positions are held for one year, some enjoy it so much, they stay for 2,3, even 4 years plus!

Some who could use your help:

Decorations:

Beverages: Dennis Teed

Raffles: Steve Cole 676-9145 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Hot Lunch Helpers: We serve hot lunch each Tuesday and Thursday (and a few Fridays) throughout the year. The time commitment is from 10:30 – 12 noon on those days and you would help with serving the kids and a quick cleanup. Dads, Moms, Grandparents… all are welcome to come help!

Contact: Katherine Gonser 304-5936 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and Amy Quillan 977-3159 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• St. Paul Baptism Welcome Committee: We’d like every child baptized in our church to feel welcomed into our school community as well. This team makes up a predetermined gift bag and Peggy Marshall (Parish Office) distributes them.

Contact: Celine Terranova 975-1349 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and Elaine Parker 868-6447

• Science Olympiad: Bringing science to life! This fantastic group of educators, parents, students (past and present) compete in several challenges that they work on throughout the school year. Meetings are held at school in the evenings (1-2 times a week) from October – March. Competition is held in March (3/26/2011) at Grand Valley State University. There are nearly 25 events in which to find an interesting fit for you this year.

Contact: Dan O’Rourke 949-1690 ext. 233 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Athletics: Our teams are nothing without the leadership of fine parents like you! If you played high school or college sports or just want to be part of the experience for your child – join us! We currently have football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, and ski club. Coaching is a large part of our success here at St. Paul.

Athletic Director: Sean Trudeau 891-1458 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Concessions: Parent volunteer needed at basketball and baseball games. Usually a 90 minute commitment once per year. Call to be added to rotating assigned schedule.

Concessions Manager: Jen Trudeau 891-1458 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

We also have other sports related events in which you could help out in:

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament: a one day event in March, is one of our biggest fund raisers for our sports programs.

Chaired by: John Sommerdyke

Poker Tournament: This is a 3 or 4 day event, in February, April, June, & November, held at Westgate Bowl (on Alpine Ave, listed under Westgate Event on the athletics calendar) where a team of us pass out chips and handle money. We do not deal games.

Contact: Meg Sullivan 940-9006 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Uniform Manager: This position helps each sports season to help each athlete get proper equipment and uniforms, takes inventory several times a year in the equipment room, purchases new uniforms and equipment, and currently hosts a school athlete ice cream social as a thank you to all who participated.

Contact: Jeanne Kortz 285-3316 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Assistant Manager Kris Russo

Parish & School Golf Outing:

Co-Chairs for the Event: Dan Holzgen 949-4748

Library Helpers: Loretta Armock, our wonderful librarian, heads up the list of volunteers in our school library. Commitment may be up to you and her. You could help with shelving, classroom time, or be a guest reader! Plus, check out our Book Fair dates and times, November 19-23rd this year. Contact: Loretta Armock at 949-1690 ext. 236 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Teacher Helpers: You can be part of your child’s classroom..behind the scenes! Help a teacher make copies, pack Friday Folders, hang artwork, classroom projects, sort papers or books, or homework… the list is endless! Giving our time to our child’s teacher is the best way we can say “Thank you”. Each classroom is unique with individual requirements, some work may be done at home.

Call school, 949-1690, and ask for the teacher’s extension or use this website to contact them via email.

School Grounds / Garden Committee: Looking for a new chair, please call the school if interested.

Entertainment Book Sale: Each family will be asked to purchase or sell 2 books.

Contact for 2011-2012: Roxanne Maitner: 954-2174

Annual Garage Sale: April 19-21st in our school gym, this 3 day event makes the bulk of the funds supporting Home & School run smoothly (spring sales in the past have earned as much as $7,000!). Responsibilities include; booking workers for set-up, sale, and clean-up, advertising in local church bulletins, booking the dates with the parish and school, setting up a local charity to come and take all the unsold items, and putting out the word that we need donations.

2010-2011 Team: Jill Lauria, Jen Brom 954-3076, and Emily Teed 285-6461