Parents (and grandparents!) are invited to become actively involved in our school, through its many volunteer activities. If you are interested in being a school volunteer, please note the following:

• Board policy requires that all volunteers submit a clear Criminal Reference Police Check prior to working in any capacity with students. Forms for the Criminal Reference Check are available at the local police station

• Individuals who have already undergone a criminal reference check in the previous year, need only complete a declaration of no change from the previous year

• The Principal is ultimately responsible for the actions and activities of any volunteer working with students, within the school, or related school activities, and thus, must abide by the procedures outlined in the HCDSB’s Volunteer Manual

Please note: We greatly appreciate your time and help, however, for liability reasons we ask that younger siblings not be brought to school or on trips during the time that you are volunteering.

Volunteer Activities

Below is a list of activities and events that have been held in the past or are planned for this year. Please note that this list is subject to change as programs are added or modified.

Classroom Volunteer: Volunteers can assist the teacher in a number of ways. Activities may be instruction related, general non-instructional or may involve classroom maintenance roles. Teachers will coordinate volunteer assignments with specific classroom needs.

Home Volunteer: We realize that it is not always possible to help out in the school. Some of the tasks that teachers might ask for help with are organizing book orders, cutting, trimming laminated materials, etc., which can be done outside of school hours.

Co-Curricular Activities: Do you have a special talent or area of expertise you would like to share with the students of St. Gabriel? Members of this group could assist with co-curricular activities (eg.; chess, stamp, or other special interest clubs). We are open to suggestions and are interested in educational activities that are also fun for our students.

Emergency School Closure: Volunteers will be responsible for notifying those families who have requested a phone call to inform them of an “emergency” closure of the school. Volunteers would need to be readily reached and can place calls from their home.

Information Technology / Computers: If you have a particular interest/specialty within the field of Information Technology, you may be interested in making a special presentation to students.

Special Events and Programs: Throughout the year a number of events and programs are held or run at St. Gabriel. Volunteers can help with one or any number of these events and programs:

• Pasta Dinner

• Pancake Tuesday

• Book Fair

• Play Day

• Uniform Exchange

• Advent Giving Fair

Reading Program:  Volunteers are needed who would be willing to listen to students read.  You would only need to commit to 1 or 2 mornings or afternoons per week.  You may be assigned to any class from JK to grade 8.

Snack Program: This group of volunteers, under the direction of the Snack Program Coordinator, prepares and distributes a healthy snack Tuesday and Thursday mornings. You may volunteer for every snack day, once a week or once every two weeks- whatever fits your schedule.

Library: Assist the librarian with library tasks and book fairs.

Catholic School Council Committees: Throughout the year, the Catholic School Council invites parents to sit on committees and review issues related to Communication, Fundraising and Faith Development.

Yearbook Committee: Volunteers will work under staff direction to produce a yearbook for the graduating class.

Breakfast Club: Breakfast club is operated by Food for Thought and is held at St. Gabriel Parish Hall for our school as well as Rolling Meadows. Under the direction of Food for Thought, volunteers would assist in providing breakfast for children of these two schools weekdays from 7 - 8am.