2025/2026 Volunteer Handbook
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
- 1 Peter 4:10
SJB Mission Statement
Our mission is to create a place to encounter Jesus. Steeped in love and Catholic teachings, we provide strong academics to foster continual learning in mind and spirit.
How to Become a Volunteer
All volunteers are required to complete the following steps. After they are all complete, you may volunteer for many things such as recess or field trips, in addition to working at fundraisers. It is best to start the process right away.
Go to https://www.archspm.org/essential-3/ and complete the “Essential 3” These must be repeated every three years.
● Background Check- The background check is run by an archdiocese-approved agency and provides a criminal history. This is an important step to screen out individuals who might present a danger to children and youth.
● Code of Conduct – A person must acknowledge that he or she understands and agrees to the principles and standards outlined in the code of conduct appropriate to his or her employment or ministry. A Code of Conduct training video by Tim O’Malley, Director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment (below) is available for public reference.
● Safe Environment Training – VIRTUS Online Protecting God’s Children and Saint Paul-Minneapolis Reporting Suspected Child Abuse is a 75-minute online awareness training that provides information on the protection of children and
UPDATED - August2025
vulnerable adults. Specific training is included on how to report suspected abuse in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
**If the requirements are not fulfilled satisfactorily, those volunteers will only be permitted to volunteer in positions deemed appropriate by the Principal.
Volunteer Requirements of Saint John’s School
● Parents or legal guardians of each family registered at SJB are required to participate in two of the school’s four main fundraisers: Scott County Fair, Marathon, Cadillac Dinner, and Golf Tournament.
● A signed volunteer policy agreement must be turned into the school office with your choice of volunteer obligations, or a $1,000 check to opt out of volunteer obligations.
General Information about Volunteering
If you volunteer during the school day while students are here, there are some procedures you must follow.
● Sign-In Procedure
For safety and security reasons, school visitors including volunteers are required to sign in at the office when they enter the building for any reason. All visitors are required to wear a designated badge or sticker that may be picked up in the office. Visitors are to return the badge/sticker and sign out at the time of departure.
● Confidentiality
A volunteer operates in a position of trust. Personal information pertaining to students must be kept confidential. Children’s actions, responses, progress or problems at school are not for sharing in the community. Conversations between parents, teachers and students in the school are confidential. Volunteers should not discuss these conversations outside of school. Refer any concerns to the administration.
● First Aid and Medication
If you volunteer on a field trip, know that a first-aid kit will be available on the field trip.
Chaperones may put on band aids, but volunteers should not administer any medication to a student. This includes, but is not limited to, over-the-counter medications.
● Responsibilities
○ SJB administration is responsible for facilitating, monitoring, evaluating and providing continuity for the success of the volunteer program.
○ The SJB staff is responsible for welcoming volunteers, informing them about their tasks, encouraging their initiatives and celebrating their efforts.
○ Volunteers are responsible for adhering to school rules and procedures, performing assigned tasks to the best of their ability, working cooperatively with all staff and seeking clarification when necessary.
● Student Behavior Expectations
○ Students should treat all volunteers with respect and kindness. If at any time students do not uphold these expectations, their behavior should be reported to the teacher or administration.
Overview of our Four Major Fundraisers
Marathon
This event is held at the end of October on a Friday and gives each student an opportunity to experience service. The preschool students dust the church, the kindergarten and first grade students entertain the residents of the local nursing home and the 2nd through 8th grade students rake leaves on the lawns of those in Jordan who need assistance. Volunteers for this event would spend the day with students, so all volunteers need to be Virtus trained. This has been a huge hit and a great way to get to know our students and see them serving others in the community.
Cadillac Dinner
This event is held around the first Saturday in March. It includes a silent auction, live auction, dinner and entertainment. This event is our largest fundraiser and requires many volunteers to be successful. There are very limited numbers of volunteers needed prior to the event. Most volunteers are needed the day of the event and that evening, during the event. This is perhaps the best way to connect with other parents and enjoy an evening centered around celebrating our school.
Golf Tournament
This event is held on a Monday in July. Teams sign up to golf, and there are various games on the course to add fun, all run by volunteers. Most volunteer opportunities are outside on the golf course. This summer event has been a lot of fun and a great SJB tradition.
Scott County Fair Food Booth
This event is Wednesday through Sunday the last week in July, during the Scott County Fair. Our school hosts a food booth that sells breakfast in the morning and lunch/dinner the rest of the day. There are many shifts to choose from during the fair. This is a really fun way to meet people in our area and get to know other parents in the school. Volunteers need to pay for parking.
**No matter which two events you choose to volunteer for, there will be a Sign-Up Genius available so that you can choose a specific opportunity that fits your schedule and talents.
Below is a list of additional opportunities for volunteer involvement. Please email Sara at office@sjsjorda.org if you are interested in: Volunteer
School Advisory Council
This group meets in the school conference room Areas of focus include policy, marketing, enrollment, and much more.
Enrollment/Spirit Committee Serves on committee to promote increased enrollment at St. John’s. Work with others to plan events.
Coaching SJB offers traveling girls volleyball in the fall and traveling girls and boys basketball in the winter.
Room Parent
Each class needs one parent who will be in charge of communication between the teacher and the parents regarding volunteer opportunities and special things such as the Cadillac Dinner class project..
Monthly meeting
Monthly meeting
Varies
Throughout the school year
Library The librarian needs volunteers to help shelve books. Weekly
Lunch Volunteer
Classroom Volunteer
Recess duty
After School Clubs
Yearbook
The Lunch Coordinator needs help each day in preparing the food that is delivered from the public school district as well as needs help serving lunch to the students.
Helps the teacher with preparing crafts, hands-on activities, small group activities, or other related needs
We need volunteers to help supervise students during their midday recess times.
There is often interest in additional after school activities. Have an idea? Submit it to the school office.
We need photographers as well as people to help layout the yearbook
Daily from 10:50am-1:00pm
As defined by classroom teacher
Daily from 11:25am-12:50pm
Varies
Throughout the year
Family Volunteer Agreement 2025-206
Please complete and return by Monday, September 11th
Volunteering has proven to be the single best way to connect SJB families with one another. In order for our school to fully benefit from the time and talents of all our families, a mandatory volunteer policy is in effect to evenly share responsibilities amongst all registered families. This program allows for adequate staffing of SJB events that help keep tuition costs down.
Each family registered at SJB is required to volunteer for two of the four major fundraisers. Please select your fundraisers below:
Marathon (Oct. 24, 2025) 2 Virtus trained family members
Cadillac Dinner (March 7, 2026) 2 family members, 2 shifts each
Golf Tournament (July TBD, 2026) 2 family members, 2 shifts each
Scott County Fair (July 29-Aug 2, 2026) 2 family members, 2 shifts each
Alternate option instead of volunteering at two major events:
$1,000 check made payable to St. John’s School
Add $1,000 to my TADS account so I can make monthly payments
I have read and will adhere to the 2025-2026 Volunteer Policy:
Parent/Guardian Names
Parent/Guardians Signatures
Name of Student(s) & Grade(s)____________________________________
Date: