VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONSouthwest High School welcomes you to:

“Inspiring Excellence in Arts and Academics”

SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

New volunteers will leave this orientation knowing:1. Background on Southwest High School

2. School policies and procedures

3. How school volunteerism fits into a youth development framework

4. Strategies for working effectively with students whose backgrounds may be different from your own

5. Strategies for building student self-esteem

6. Strategies for managing common student behaviors

7. How to keep personal conversations safe and productive

8. What to ask in an initial conversation with the teacher/staff

9. The MPS volunteer policies

10. Next steps

Learning Objectives

• Vision

• Mission

• Goals

• Values

Southwest High SchoolMoving toward academic success

Southwest High SchoolOur students

• Enrollment

• Demographics

Southwest High SchoolWhat we offer

• Academic curriculum

• Clubs and activities

• Business/college partnerships

• Cell phone use

• Computer/internet use

• Attendance

• Behavior management

• Etc.

School Policies

• Expectations of volunteers in the school

• Supervision

• Check-in/ name badges

• Absences and consistency

• School policies

School Procedure

• School calendar

• Parking

• Class schedule

• Staff contact information

Logistics and Resources

In addition to academic achievement, volunteers should strive to develop non-academic outcomes in our students. These are critical to our students’ overall lifelong success.

There are 5 “C’s” that are our focus areas for youth development:

COMPETENCECHARACTERCONNECTIONCONFIDENCE

CONTRIBUTION

Youth Development

Necessary components for creating an effective learning environment:• Trust• Set boundaries• Consistency• Sensitivity and awareness of

the individual needs of students• Positive feedback• Specificity in direction• High and attainable

expectations and goals

Working with Students•Try to remember what it was like to be the age of your student

•Never argue with a student, avoid an escalating situation. If a student refuses to follow your instructions, consult with the teacher in charge

•Through words and actions, express that we help students because we believe they can succeed, not because they have failed

Self EsteemHelping students build confidence and develop a healthy sense of who they are is a key component of volunteering in a school. Here are some things you can do:

Give students sincere praise Listen to and acknowledge feelings Expect the best Be consistent and follow up with everything you say to the

student Build a relationship Show how to learn from past mistakes Critique student’s work, not student themselves

Be Aware of AssumptionsCommon assumptions about students:

• Have English speaking parents

• Lives with parents• Gets enough to eat • Isn’t gifted and ready for a

challenge because he or she does not speak English fluently

• Is angry because he/she is loud

• Has glasses if he/she needs them

• Gets to “act their age” outside of school and “be a kid.”

• Has his/her own room at home

• Can easily stay after school and get a ride home

• Can get a folder, notebook and other supplies they might need from home

• Has a home to go to after school

Behavior Management• Behavior management is different from discipline. It is

proactive, not reactive

• Teachers, not volunteers, should discipline

• Misbehavior may happen when students aren’t getting what they need

POWER ATTENTION REVENGEFAILURE

AVOIDANCE

Talking about Tough IssuesBy law you are required to report any suspected abuse,

sexual, physical, or emotional.

Here are a few tips for talking with youth about tough topics: Create an open environment Be honest Be patient Listen attentively Use age-appropriate language Discuss choices and consequences Refer student to qualified professional resources when

appropriate

Discussing Your Role with school staff before you start

Teacher’s ability to support you, the volunteer

It is important to find out how much of a relationship you can expect to develop with the teacher. Find out the preferred mode of communication whether it be to talk after class each week or to communicate by email.

Teacher’s needs What does the teacher need help with?

It is often good to ask this after you present your skills; teachers may think of needs that pertain to your specific interests and abilities.

Your skills Example: “I have a strong background in

earth sciences and would feel very comfortable helping students learn content material.” –or- “I used to teach an after-school study skills program at the YWCA. I would be happy to work with students who need help in that area.”

What you seekExample: “I would really like work one-on-one with students / have a chance to teach a mini-lesson/ learn more about classroom management techniques through observation.”

MPS Volunteer PoliciesAs a volunteer in the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) you

are required to know the following district policies and procedures:

 

You Can Make a Difference!• There is a great need for quality volunteers!• Volunteers in our schools have great importance in the

lives of our students• As a volunteer, you can:

– Give a student time– Help a student feel accepted– Help a student feel successful and instill in him or her

confidence– Bring a student new experiences– Expand a student’s world of adult friendships– Offer a student a listening ear– Be a good friend