VOLUNTEER HOURS—POINTS OF CLARIFICATION

(This is a revised reprint of our Volunteer Hours FAQ’s sheet)

WHAT IS THE VOLUNTEER HOURS OBLIGATION?

Parents are to volunteer at the rate of one (1) hour per parent, per month, each month.

WHAT IF WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD AT CCA?

It’s the same: one hour per parent in the household, no matter how many children attend CCA.

ISN’T IT TEN HOURS PER PARENT, PER YEAR, WHENEVER WE CAN GET THEM IN?

That’s what it ends up being, but we have to stipulate a monthly number of hours to be done so that the billing/invoice system makes sense. Keeping track of and trying to collect for all hours done/not done by the end of the year would be impossible.

Will there be notification prior to the date report cards are issued or withheld?

Yes, 1) the school calendar notes quarterly deadlines for reporting your hours, and 2) a general notice will be printed in the Parent Update sometime prior to the issuance of report cards. This will notify parents of the last day to log volunteer hours. That day will be between 1 to 2 weeks before the actual report cards are issued to permit us time to tabulate the hours & obligations.

“I VOLUNTEERED 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE REPORT CARDS AND GOT INVOICED!!”

(or) “I VOLUNTEERED BEFORE THE MONTH WAS DONE, AND STILL GOT INVOICED!”

That’s because it was after the time to record the hours. We must have sufficient time to process the volunteer hours accounts. (See the explanation above). In such cases, those hours will be counted toward the next quarter’s obligation.

CAN OTHER HOURS BE “CARRIED OVER” TO THE NEXT QUARTER? TO NEXT YEAR??

YES. If a family completes their yearly obligation in the 1 st or 2 nd quarter, it’s done. If a parent completes hours beyond the 10 annual hours, then ten percent (10%) of those hours may be carried over into the next year, BUT you will have to request that action.

ARE THESE DATES ON A CALENDAR SOMEWHERE?

YES—they are on the calendar given out at Parent Orientation and on the website. Look for dates in October, January, March, and May that say “Parents’ Last Day to Log Q-1 (or 2, 3, 4) Volunteer Hours” NOTE: Parents, by far the biggest problem is the late reporting of hours. Please see and observe the stated timelines on your school calendar.

LIMITATIONS & EXCEPTIONS: 1. Two parents on the same field trip does NOT equal twice the number of hours! 2. Volunteer hours credit cannot be awarded if the parent gains something tangible. For example, free admission for chaperones on field trips or free photos for helping on Photo Day forfeits volunteer hour’s credit. Please don’t ask teachers to sign vouchers in such cases!

YES! It’s time to get ready for the annual CCA Open House event to be held here at CCA. We will welcome inquiries and scheduled classroom visitations during American Education Week, November 17-20. THIS IS OUR BIGGEST RECRUITING EVENT OF THE YEAR! More information coming soon!

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM: YEAR 2

Last year, we held a series of meetings with parents according to the grade level of their child. (Remember our “Koffee Klatches”?) The purpose was to solicit and solidify concerns that reflected concerns relevant to better serving the needs of children and parents. One result was the development of an amazing corps of parents into our School Improvement Team. This team met several times—right on into summer—and served to resolve some important issues and to provide critical support needed to get our new handbook to parents. However, 3 of the SIT members went on to serve CCA as officers in the PTF. This year, of course, brings its own set of unique scenarios and issues, and we do not want to wait for certain “hot button” issues to drive us into action—we want to be proactive! PLEASE LOOK FOR ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT AND SIGN-UP SLIP FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE CCA SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM. Remember, everyone isn’t ON the SIT, but everyone is REPRESENTED by the SIT. We hope you will prayerfully consider joining this group whose sole purpose is to help make CCA the best school it can be for you and for our children.

TOMORROW, Friday, November 7 th. ………………………. Report Cards issued (at end of full day)
Monday, November 10 th 6-8:30 pm………………………..PTF Exec. Bd. Mtg (moved from Mon 11/3)
TUESDAY, November 11 th ………………………1 st Qtr Awards Assembly (9:00 am Chapel Service)

Wednesday, 11/19…………………………. Make up Day Individual Photos + 2 nd & 5 th Grade Class Photo (not taken on original date)

NOTE: PHOTOGRAPHER WILL RETAKE ANY INDIVIDUAL PHOTO FROM OCT 3 RD FREE IF ORIGINAL PACKAGE IS RETURNED (OR MAY BE PURCHASED)

Friday, 11/21. ………………………Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for CCA Children, Parents & Staff