Medford School District 549C
Learn the Basics
Learn the Basics
Your volunteer opportunity will be more meaningful if you learn the following:
- The layout of your school or other volunteer site, including the location of restrooms, supply and workroom areas, staff lounge areas, storage for personal belongings, and entrances and exits.
- Where to sign in and out, and how to get a name badge.
- How and where to use the school phone.
- How to operate any necessary equipment, like a copy machine, fax or computer.
- What to do in an emergency (see following sections).
- Whom to call if you are unable to make it into the school.
- Where to park.
- Your school’s calendar and schedule.
- School policies and procedures.
Sign-In Each Day
All Medford School District volunteers are required to sign in at the start of a volunteer shift. This lets the office staff know you are in the building and where they can find you if they need you. This also makes sure you are covered by the District’s liability insurance in case of an accident. The Medford School District also collects volunteer statistics and uses them in applying for grants that help schools.
Wear a Name Badge
All Medford School District volunteers must wear a name badge so staff and students will recognize you as a safe volunteer.
Show up Healthy
Schools need to provide a healthy and safe environment for students, staff and visitors. Please do not come to school if you are ill. Remember to call the school if you won’t be in.
Learn How to Handle Emergencies
Each building has a copy of the Medford School District Emergency Procedure Manual. The manual includes procedures for many emergency situations, including evacuations, lock downs, injuries, fires, electrical outages and child abuse reporting. You should speak with your principal about how you can help in the event of an emergency. Schools hold regular drills for various emergency procedures; find out your role during these drills.
Review the Evacuation Map
Each district building has an evacuation map posted. Please study it and become familiar with the required evacuation routes. Success during emergencies relies on everyone following the same plan. Also, note the location of exits and fire alarms.
Look out for Strangers or Intruders
All visitors to Medford School District schools are expected to go directly to the office to check in. Buildings should have signs on all outside doors with maps directing people to the office. All visitors to schools, including volunteers, should wear name badges that identify them. If you see someone in the school who is not a staff member and who does not have a volunteer or visitor badge, please do the following:
- Approach the person from a safe distance (what feels safe is up to you) and politely ask the person if you can help them.
- If they are looking for a particular room or person, offer to take them to the main office so they can get a badge and the office staff can help them find who or what they need. The person may be looking for the office.
- Always be courteous. You can apologize for the inconvenience of needing to take the person to the office to get a visitor’s badge, but explain that students feel safer when they know the adults in the building are supposed to be there.
- If you do not feel safe approaching a person in the building, note the person’s appearance and location, and go straight to the office and share the information.
Report any Threats You Hear to Your Principal
If you hear a rumor about a threat to the school or people in it, tell the principal as soon as possible. The principal will work with district officials and public safety personnel to follow up on rumors and make sure schools are safe. Do not assume a rumor is false or assume a rumor is true and help spread it. Inform the principal and let her or him separate fact from fiction.
Know the Medford School District Board Policies
As a volunteer, you are responsible for reading and understanding the following board policies. If you have any questions please contact your principal.