Parent Resources
Volunteer Handbook

Please call the school office to receive a printed copy of our Student Handbook: (660) 826-1925 or download a copy here.

Volunteer Handbook

St. Paul’s Lutheran School Association — Sedalia, MO

Board Approved 6/2021 | Reviewed 8/2026

St. Paul’s School Mission Statement

Celebrating God's Gift of eternal life through Christ-Centered, quality education.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” — Proverbs 11:25

Welcome, Volunteers!

Thank you for volunteering. At St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. Sedalia, we believe educating students is the uppermost priority. This is both academically and spiritually.

We also know it takes a village to raise a child. Together with our teacher assistants, teachers always need volunteers to help with students. We appreciate your assistance and look forward to having you at St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc.

Definition of a Volunteer

Dependable, loyal, and enthusiastic volunteers increase the overall effectiveness of the school and enhance student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and awareness for the community and congregation about St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc.

Volunteers are concerned and dedicated people who work under the direction of the principal and teachers and willingly comply with the mission of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways volunteers can contribute their time and talents at St. Paul’s Lutheran School Association.

Classroom Aide

Classroom aides may:

  1. Provide additional one-on-one or group reinforcement to children when needed.
  2. Help with routine procedures to give the teacher more instructional time in the classroom.
  3. Help students with missed assignments when requested.
  4. Contribute his/her talent to increase student awareness of career opportunities.
  5. Bring human resources of the community into the school when possible—for example, demonstrate a special skill or hobby.
  6. Provide transportation on field trips.
  7. Help prepare classroom materials.
  8. Read to/with children.
  9. Assist in correcting papers.
  10. Supervise groups taking tests.

Extracurricular Activity Leaders

Volunteers may:

  1. Maintain an after-school club.
  2. Coach a sport.
  3. Serve as a “room parent” and plan the class Christmas and Valentine parties.

Library Assistant

Library assistants may:

  1. Check out/in books.
  2. Shelve books.
  3. Mend books as needed.
  4. Maintain the computer cataloging system.

Label Coordinator

The Label Coordinator may:

  1. Collect and record product labels to be used toward the acquisition of school materials.
  2. Conduct a label drive by advertising the program throughout the school and community.

Food Services

Volunteers may:

  1. Assist in preparing and serving a simple breakfast each morning.
  2. Assist as a lunch room monitor, helping children as they eat their lunch.

School Age Care Assistant

Volunteers may:

  1. Assist the SAC worker with welcoming or dismissing students.
  2. Assist the SAC worker with supervision of students.

There are many volunteer opportunities available at St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. that may not be listed above. The principal is available to discuss other volunteer opportunities.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28

The next website section is “Volunteer Screening Policy of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Association,” followed by the four volunteer categories and their screening requirements.

Volunteer Screening Policy of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Association

Policy Statement

All employees and volunteers who work with children at St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. must comply with the screening procedures as listed in this volunteer screening policy.

This policy includes:

  • Establishing a volunteer application
  • Procedures for reporting abuse
  • Signed statements from the applicant stating that the applicant has never been formally accused, found guilty, or entered a guilty plea in a court of law to any form of child abuse or neglect
  • Background checks on the applicant

Purpose

It is the goal of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. to provide:

  1. A safe, Christian environment for all children involved in any school sponsored program or activity.
  2. Comfortable working conditions for all employees and volunteers.

Objectives

  1. All children be treated with courtesy, respect, and Christian love while attending the programs and activities of St. Paul’s.
  2. The activities and programs of St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. are conducted in a safe and secure environment and the children are properly supervised while participating in these activities and programs.
  3. Volunteers and employees who work with children receive appropriate training to properly supervise and conduct the activities and programs and to respond to and report dangerous or inappropriate situations.

Volunteer Screening Requirements

St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. welcomes and encourages involvement from parents, grandparents, community members, businesses, community organizations, and representatives of other educational institutions.

In order to provide students with a safe environment and allow for a variety of opportunities for volunteering, volunteer participation is classified into four categories.

Depending upon the category, certain processes must be completed by St. Paul’s Lutheran School Assoc. prior to volunteering.

All volunteers will be screened annually.

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Category A

Volunteers with unrestricted exposure who work with children and may be unsupervised by school staff.

This volunteer likely will have direct and unsupervised interaction with children. Typical examples could include athletic coaches and assistants, classroom aides, and substitute teachers.

Screening Requirements

  • Sponsored by an employee of St. Paul’s.
  • Able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
  • Complete and submit the School Volunteer Application for approval.
  • Submit to a criminal background check via the national criminal & sex offender registry. The background check is paid for by the school.
  • Sign in on the school approved “Volunteer/Visitor sign-in sheet” in the office.

Category B

Volunteers with classroom exposure who work with children and are generally supervised by school staff.

This could include direct contact with supervision. Typical examples could include tutors, classroom assistants, student teachers, and field trip drivers.

Conditions typically are classrooms or areas where staff or other adults can observe at most times. These occasionally include short solitary times with children and short durations of obstructed view.

Screening Requirements

  • Sponsored by an employee of the school.
  • Able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
  • Complete and submit the School Volunteer Application for approval.
  • Submit to a criminal background check via the national criminal & sex offender registry. The background check is paid by the school.
  • Volunteer drivers for field trips must have a current driver’s license and provide proof of insurance.
  • Sign in on the school approved “Volunteer/Visitor sign-in sheet” in the main office.

“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” — Isaiah 58:10

Category C

Volunteers with group exposure who have little or no direct unsupervised exposure or contact with children.

Typical examples could include non-classroom volunteers such as office help, non-classroom assistance, and organized functions associated with organizations such as PTL.

Screening Requirements

  • Sponsored by a school employee.
  • Able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
  • Complete and submit the School Volunteer Application for approval.
  • Sign in on the school approved “Volunteer/Visitor sign-in sheet” in the main office.

Category D

Volunteers or guests who enter a school for a one-time visit.

This person has no unsupervised exposure or contact with children. Typical examples could include guest readers, guest speakers, and service personnel.

Screening Requirements

  • Sponsored by a school employee.
  • Able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
  • Sign in on the school approved “Volunteer/Visitor sign-in sheet” in the main office.

Training

Volunteer training is the responsibility of the immediate supervisor within the functional area (athletic director, office help and secretary, classroom aide and teacher).

It is expected that the duties and responsibilities of the volunteer activity be clearly communicated to the volunteer by the supervisor.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” — Luke 6:38

Rules for Volunteers Working with Children

General rules which apply to all volunteers working with children include:

  1. Follow the direction of your supervisor.
    All volunteers must submit to the rules, recommendations, and requests of the immediate supervisor. Volunteers will be asked to leave if the rules, recommendations, and requests of the immediate supervisor are not followed.
  2. Keep lights on and door windows uncovered.
    Lights are to remain on and door windows are not to be covered. Should lights need to be turned off for video viewing, the immediate supervisor will be present.
  3. Have a second adult present for one-on-one conversations.
    It is mandatory to have a second adult in the room when a one-on-one conversation is needed with a student.
  4. Use appropriate topics, vocabulary, and attire.
    Topics, vocabulary, and attire should not be used/worn which may convey a negative message to students or parents.
  5. Alcohol, drugs, and smoking are prohibited.
    Adult volunteers will not use alcohol and/or illicit drugs during a scheduled activity. Smoking is not permitted while providing transportation on a field trip.

  6. Maintain appropriate physical boundaries.
    Do not have any physical contact with students in ways that would seem intimate, threatening, or frightening. Students should not sit on your lap or be kissed.

    Under no circumstances should you treat a child roughly. Do not yell at him, intimidate him, threaten him, grab him by his arm firmly, shake him, forcibly sit him in a chair, or strike him.

    Not only would such occurrences be inappropriate in a Christian atmosphere, but cause of legal action could be argued.

  7. Maintain a professional posture.
    Volunteers will always maintain a professional posture in dealing with students.
  8. Report safety or abuse concerns.
    If a volunteer believes that a student is in an unsafe or abusive home, he shall report it to the immediate supervisor.

Confidentiality Policy

Volunteers could be exposed to confidential information concerning student performance, information a child may share about family, and teacher-child interaction.

This type of information must be kept confidential, even if the volunteer believes it is a positive bit of information.

Any concerns regarding a child’s behavior or achievement should only be discussed with the classroom teacher or the principal. Qualified school personnel will make all contact with parents.