Mission Statement

The mission of the Oregon Trail School District Volunteer Program is to provide opportunities for members of our community to enrich the educational development of students through positive participation in our schools educational, extra-curricular and parent/teacher club programs.

Volunteer Guidelines

Volunteers are required to:

• Sign-in at the front desk upon entering a school building.
• Wear identification/name tags as required by the school.
• Only perform services under the direction of an administrator, teacher or other staff member.
• Leave the building along with students and staff if there is an emergency drill.

Volunteers shall not:

• Wear the school identification/name tag at any location in the district or community other than the school that furnished the tag.
• Bring younger children/siblings to the school while volunteering. Even a quiet, sleeping baby draws the attention of the students away from their schoolwork.
• Disrupt classroom activities with questions or concerns about their own child. A separate time may be arranged before or after school to conference with a child’s teacher.
• Engage in political or religious activities while volunteering.
• Provide first aid or handle any bodily fluid spills. If accidentally exposed to another individual’s body fluid, wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water, or flush mucous membranes with water.
• Publish photos/videos taken of students during a school event or activity, with the exception of children related to the volunteer. This includes any/all pubic/private social media, blogs, websites, etc. Some students are opted-out of photos/videos for safety reasons.

Volunteers are expected to act professionally and serve as good role models for students. Volunteers shall:

• Avoid being alone with students in unsupervised locations.
• Use common sense and follow a hands-off policy with students.
• Refer any student discipline issues to a school staff member. Never intervene in a dispute unless a student is in danger of being harmed.
• Uphold confidentiality at all times. As a matter of professional ethics volunteers should not discuss teacher, student or school affairs with other people.
• Report suspected child abuse to the principal or school staff member. It is not appropriate for a volunteer to question a child or comment about any suspicion of abuse. NOTE: There are laws that govern the action that schools are required to take if signs of possible abuse are observed. Keep in mind – some forms of abuse are not outwardly visible. Types of abuse could include physical, mental or sexual abuse; neglect; or threat of harm.

Volunteers supervising student groups off campus, during field trips, shall:

• Sign-in at the school office first if riding the bus with students.
• Chek in with the classroom teacher for instruction, supplies, etc.
• Wear appropriate identification/name tage as required.
• Never leave children unattended. Keep the group together; restroom breaks should include everyone in the group.
• Adhere to school guidelines with regard to student discipline. If a student becomes a discipline problem during a field trip, every effort should be made to contact the teacher for intervention.
• Remember confidentiality! If a troubling situation arises, discuss it with the teacher.
• Never bring younger children/siblins on a field trip.
• In case of an emergency
  • Never split up your group
  • Call 911 immediately
  • Contact the teacher as soon as possible

For more information on Volunteering in the Oregon Trail School District, read Policy IICC-AR.

SafeSchools training is an online training center that allows school districts across the state of Oregon to easily train staff, parents, and volunteers on school-related safety issues to demonstrate state and federal compliance with safety mandates.

As a district parent and/or volunteer, you may register and take the following trainings:

• Child Abuse: Identification & Intervention
• Sexual Conduct: Staff-to-Student
• Sexual Misconduct: Staff-to-Student

To access the online training programs, click here or copy and paste the following URL into your internet browser: https://parent-or.safeschools.com/register/a94c82e0. You willl then be taken to the registration page where you will enter your basic information, including a username. To begin a course, click on the blue title link and follow the prompts. To earn a certificate of completion, you must complete all sections of a course and pass the quiz.

Questions? Contact Chelsea Leymaster at 503-668-5541 or chelsea.leymaster@ortrail.k12.or.us