Volunteer Opportunities
When you become a volunteer, your work takes on special significance -- though you are not part of the staff, you do share the same responsibilities of keeping scholars safe. School volunteers may be parents or community members. Volunteers can be utilized in a variety of situations in schools, ranging from one time only events to monthly, weekly or daily commitments. They may provide tutorial help, monitor lunchrooms, assist in the libraries, lunchrooms or playgrounds.
Enrollment
Step 1) Visit this website.
Step 2) Read the general information on volunteering and click the link for the Volunteer Tracker Application.
Step 3) Click on the green, “New to the App-Garden? Click Here to Register” link. Enter your email address, create a password and Register. An activation email will be sent to your email address to validate your account.
Step 4) Finish your application. You will receive an email shortly once approved.
Volunteer Orientation and Training
For more information on any of the following positions, please contact Sonia Spencer, stspencer@madison.k12.wi.us, (608) 204-7862
Food Pantry Assistant
Position Purpose: Volunteers assist in the operations of in-school food pantry.
May include but are not limited to the following:
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Help stock, inventory and arrange food
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Greet and assist patrons
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May occasionally need to lift up to 15 pounds
Time Commitment: Mondays, 2:30-5:30pm – 3 hours weekly; OR Thursdays, 1:00-3:00pm - 2 hours weekly; A weekly commitment is preferred.
Contact: Sonia Spencer at stspencer@madison.k12.wi.us or Nancy Dodge nadodge2@gmail.com.
Walking School Bus/Safe Routes to School
The Walking School Bus ‘Drivers’ will walk with students in a specific and pre-determined neighborhood to school in time for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The ‘Drivers’ will be provided a reflective safety vest and sign. The ‘Drivers’ will be at a specific location to pick up students and walk with them to school. The pick-up locations are within a one mile radius of the school. Specific routes will be determined by where students live and volunteer’s desired walking route.
Mendota Food Pantry
Food Pantry Pantry volunteers are coordinated through Food For Thought/Goodman Community Center. Volunteers will track the food inventory, coordinate the schedules for the food pantry stockers, and staff the food pantry when open to families. Volunteers will assist in stocking the food pantry shelves, cleaning the food pantry area and staffing the open food pantry days.
Contact: Lea Aschkenase at laschken@wisc.edu
After School Club Assistant
Mondays, 1:10-3:00 pm; Tuesdays - Thursdays from 2:42 - 5:00 pm
Serve as an extra hands for the After School clubs. Volunteer assistants will help with distributing snacks, gather scholars prior to club start, help with attendance, provide assistance to the club leader, assist with dismissal, and help with clean up.
Open Schoolhouse
Open Schoolhouse is held once a week from 5-7:00 pm. During this time, Mendota is open for family-fun activities and programming related to student achievement and community wellbeing. Volunteers will interact with kids and help support a range of activities (e.g. recreation in the gym, crafts in the art room, reading books in the library).
School Gardener and Beautification
Mendota Elementary needs 1-2 volunteer gardeners for on-going garden maintenance, and to lead interested volunteer gardeners during special events like spring planting, or fall clean up, or on-going watering, maintenance during the summer months.
Schools of Hope Literacy Tutor
Mendota is part of the Schools of Hope Project which coordinates volunteers to tutor students during the school day. Volunteering through the Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Project allows volunteers to work with students consistently throughout the semester or year on literacy. Volunteers are asked to dedicate at least an hour a week to tutor. Tutoring provides a great opportunity to help students achieve academic success while building positive relationships. To volunteer through Schools of Hope, please contact our tutor coordinator.
One-Time Special Event Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions to help make school events/activities successful. Volunteers are often needed for set-up, take down and leading activities.Examples of one time events include but are not limited to; PTO Fundraisers, Community School Block Party and Community School Family and Youth Engagement Day.
General School Assistant
Volunteers serving as general school assistants will complete a wide range of duties which are likely to vary from day to day. Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
- Shelving books
- Copying
- Laminating
- Preparing classroom materials
- Lunchroom assistant
- Recess assistant
- Photographer
Leadership Opportunities
Volunteer leaders are also needed to participate on the following committees:
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) - The PTO at Mendota helps support the school in a variety of ways, including hosting fundraisers, organizing school events and advocating for our Scholars. Please contact our PTO President, mendotaptopres@gmail.com for further information.
Community School Committee (CSC) - The CSC at Mendota helps support the diverse needs of students, families and community members by bringing programming and services into the school. Please contact our Community School Resource Coordinator Sonia Spencer, stspencer@madison.k12.wi.us, (608) 204-7812.
Mendota Dad’s Group - Monthly meeting of Mendota dads to discuss and share issues surrounding dads raising kids, volunteering and navigating the MMSD school system to become leaders at Mendota Elementary.