Life at ICS

Why Volunteering for Your Children’s School (Really, Really) Matters

“Every time we gather becomes a model of the future we want to create.” – Peter Block from Community: The Structure of Belonging

There is a key word in the middle of the title of our school: Community. In our case, community means parents being involved, as best they can, in the life of the school. According to Mr. Ehrgott, our school’s founder and president, that was the intent from the very beginning, by design. Being a member of our school community inherently means heeding the call to service. For a school, that need for help never goes away. And for Irvington Community School, all our parents know coming in that community service is a vital part of our relationship.

At the beginning of each school year, we ask that parents from each family commit to a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer work annually. We do this by having your child’s homeroom teacher discuss the Student Parent Teacher Contract with you and obtaining your signature. The in-print promise you make on behalf of your family declares:

“I will:…Spend 20 hours total every school year volunteering, visiting the classroom, attending meetings or events, meeting with you as the teacher, or in any other way the school and I decide is appropriate.”

We know parenting requires much of your time and energy, and that work and other family activities and personal commitments take much of your day. We also know that if we provide ways for you to connect with the ICS, the whole school community benefits tremendously. It doesn’t take a lot of time to be of service to your school, and we can make it convenient and interest-oriented for you. Here’s all you need to do:

Step 1: Make Contact

The first step in volunteering is getting in touch with us. You can contact the ICS Client Service Manager, Tim Mulherin, by phone (357-5359 x132), , appointment, or by dropping by his office or catching him in the parking lot as he manages release traffic. You can also contact PTSA’s Volunteer Coordinator and Vice Chair, , at 201-3140. In fact, any of PTSA’s officers would be glad to assist you.

Step 2: Sign Up for Your Assignment

The next step is determining a good fit for you as an ICS Volunteer. We can always make use of your expertise as well as your interest in learning something new. Our minimum requirements are simple: that you bring your enthusiasm and commitment. Let us handle the rest! Check here for a list of available volunteer opportunities.

Step 3: Participate

The last step is, as the Nike commercial famously suggests, Just Do It! Commit. Show up. Dig in. You’ll be glad you did – and so will we!

What Our Volunteers Are Saying…

PTSA Vice Chair Delores Clark, who, aside from her role as a PTSA officer, also lends a hand with school events such as Movie Night, says, “Juggling raising a family with a full-time job makes it hard to stay connected with my son’s school life. Volunteering at ICS enables me to stay in touch with the school faculty as well as other parents while helping out around the school."

ICS parent Laura Zinkan comments, “Volunteers are important to any school for many reasons. Two of the most important ones are that they provide an additional support system for the teachers and staff and allow the students to see that parents care about their school and what happens in it. For me personally, volunteering has been one of my most rewarding adventures.”

So you see, we’re not asking for the impossible. We’re asking for you to fully participate in your school community and fulfill your commitment. Indeed, your involvement in the school and modeling excellent civic behavior through volunteering will provide your children with an essential lifelong lesson in their development as well-rounded, caring, contributing members of society. And you’ll be gratified to see your contributions in action in your community school, a special place where children grow academically and socially and develop greater character through our close partnership with parents.

So, what do you say, partner?

Posted Thu Jun 25 at 10:23 am