Volunteer FAQ

Many people have questions, especially if they haven't volunteered at our school before. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions. Please don't hesitate to ask if your questions are not answered here!

What types of positions are available as a volunteer?

There are many different kinds of positions available. 

• Leadership / Executive Board - Become an integral part of the running of the PTA by running for one of the elected positions (for example, President or Treasurer) or appointed positions (Membership or Legislative).  Hours depend on the position, but they are positions for the school year (generally July - June). All leadership positions do have a training requirement to ensure volunteers are knowledgeable about their roles and how PTA runs.
• Program Chair - Take on a role where you are managing and working to ensure a successful program (for example, Communications OR Student Enrichment Programs).  Hours required will depend on the position, but these do tend to be school year commitments (generally July - June). 
• Event Chair - Take on an event (or events), coordinating the timing, content, communication and volunteer recruiting to ensure a successful event (for example, a Family Game Night OR Field Day).  The hours required for these greatly depends on the type of event and how many events are handled. 
• Volunteer to help at an event or with a program - use the signup sheet or contact the chairperson to volunteer to help!!  You can help with a single event like Science Night.  Or you can sign up to join the Library Volunteers, helping in the library once a week.  You can also offer to help the chairperson with organization - if you want to learn about it but aren't quite ready to take on a chair position! 
• School volunteers - and of course, the school is always looking for volunteers - talk to your student's teacher, or the front office about helping out at school (as a crossing guard, on the playground, etc).

Do I need to take on a Chair position on my own?

• Absolutely NOT! Any chair position can be shared! Find a friend and serve together as co-chairs OR let us know you would like to partner with someone but you want helping finding someone! You can have a TEAM of Chairs, if that will work best for you! Many hands make for lighter work.

Are there any procedures I need to follow before I can volunteer?

• Yes, if you plan to volunteer in the building, you will need to complete the Bellevue School District Volunteer Application and Washington State Request for Criminal History Information form. Fill out your application HERE. The volunteer approval is good for 3 years, after which time you will need to apply again to be able to continue volunteering at the school. 
• Also, certain programs do have additional training required prior to participating.

Will volunteering in the PTA be a BIG time commitment?

• It can be as little or as much time as you can manage. We can help you find something that will fit your time limitations!

Is there a way to be notified of Volunteer Opportunities?

• Watch out website and our bi-weekly newsletter for new volunteer opportunities.

Can I only volunteer once in a while without being pressured to volunteer for future events?

• Absolutely! We do not pressure anyone into volunteering and that is a promise!  You can volunteer as much or as little as you desire. We value your time! We are thankful for your 5 minutes or your 50 minutes. We may ask you to volunteer for another event, but it's perfectly okay to say “No”. If everyone does a little, it goes a long way.  

Can I volunteer for more than one committee?

• Absolutely! You can volunteer for as many committees as you are comfortable with.  

I do not speak English very well and am not comfortable having to interact with a lot of people. Are there still tasks that I can do?

• Let us know what you are comfortable with - and we will work with you to ensure you find something that will work!

What if I sign up and then something happens so I can’t do the job?

• Just let your chair person know (or PTA President) and we will ensure you get help. Let everyone know quickly. Don't leave it until the last minute.

Can I get help with an event, if I need it? 

• We have many volunteers that can step in and add additional support.  Please ask!!

What happens if you don't fill a event or program chair position?

• Our Newport Heights PTA Executive Board has agreed that the right thing to do for our PTA is to set deadlines by which volunteers are needed for programs/events for scheduling & budgeting purposes. If we don't have a chair by the deadline, we will cancel the event. While this makes us all sad to think about cancelling things, we know its not sustainable for us to just keep taking on more without the needed additional volunteers. You will see deadline as they approach, we will make sure to communicate the need and the deadline.

Still have questions?  Please contact our PTA President.