Parent Teacher Magazine - Gaston County Schools

Volunteer Opportunities
One Person Can Make A Difference. YOU Can Make A Difference.
In a time of unprecedented change to
public education, we know that one thing
remains unchanged - the power of one - the
power of one volunteer, one mentor or one
caring adult to make a difference in the life of
one child.
Gaston County Schools’ volunteers donate
countless hours helping children. They
contribute their time, talents and resources
offering academic support, serving on school
committees, advising student organizations
and assisting with special events and
programs.
Volunteers enhance the educational
program - they help our children gain selfesteem,
improve reading and math skills
and become successful in school and life.
Volunteers may donate their time to serve as
a mentor, tutor, reading buddy, lunch buddy,
test proctor, field trip monitor, do clerical
work, assist in the library or help in some
other way.
Examples of volunteer
opportunities in our schools:
Mentor - serve as positive role models
for a student one-hour a week by talking
with, encouraging and building a trusting
relationship with the student. Mentors help
with homework, offer advice on college and
career plans and provide positive support.
A child must be five years
old on or before August 31,
2013 to attend kindergarten. All
children entering kindergarten
this fall must have a health
physical between August 25,
2012 and August 27, 2013. The
assessments must be submitted
to the school principal on
kindergarten assessment forms
provided by the N.C. Department
of Human Resources and the N.C.
Department of Public Instruction.
Kindergarten health assessment
forms are available at elementary
schools, the Gaston County
Health Department and all
pediatrician offices. Students
who do not meet the state
requirements for immunizations
and a school physical exam by
6 • September/October 2013 • Parent Teacher Magazine
September 25, 2013 will not be
allowed to remain in school.
North Carolina law requires
the following immunizations for
students:
n 5 DTP/DTaP
(Diphtheria, Tetanus,
Whooping Cough)
If the fourth dose is on or
after the fourth birthday, fifth
dose is not required.
n 2 Mumps
n 4 Polio – IPV 3 doses
are acceptable if the last dose
was given on or after the fourth
birthday.
n 1 Rubella
Tutor - work one-on-one or with small
groups of students on classroom or homework
assignments and with reading.
Junior Achievement - assist in
classroom instruction programs on
economics, personal finance and business
entrepreneurship. Volunteers usually come
from the business community.
Reading Soul Mates - donate time each
week through the Gaston Literacy Council to
help a child or a group of children improve
reading skills.
Clerical Support - assist the
administration, teachers and office staff with
copying materials, answering phones, data
input and greeting visitors, etc.
Volunteers are needed and welcomed
at all 55 schools. Adults wishing to help
Gaston County students improve achievement
should contact their school principal for more
information on volunteer opportunities.
An on-line application and screening
is required to volunteer in Gaston County
Schools. The application is available at www.
gastonschoolvolunteers.com.
Volunteer Orientation
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Just
complete the online volunteer application.
Immunization Requirements
n 1 HIB (Haemophilus
Influenza B)
Must be given at 15 months
of age and before five years of
age. Not required after age five.
n 3 Hepatitis B
Required for all students born
on or after July 1, 1994.
n 2 Measles
Two doses after the first
birthday and at least 28
days apart. Usually given as
MMR(measles, mumps, rubella).
n 1 Varicella(Chicken Pox)
Required for all students born
on or after April 1, 2001.
Mentor Training Sessions
(601 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC)
September 18, 2013
October 16, 2013
November 20, 2013
January 15, 2014
February 19, 2014
March 19, 2014
Once your volunteer application is approved,
you will receive an e-mail requesting that
you attend a Volunteer Orientation session.
Volunteer Orientation sessions will be held
weekly at the Gaston County Schools Central
Office, 943 Osceola St., Gastonia, N.C.
Sessions last approximately 20 minutes.
Dates for orientations are posted monthly.
A reservation is not required to attend an
orientation.
Mentor Training Sessions
*A one hour training session is
required for volunteers in the mentoring
program. For information or to reserve a
seat for training contact the GCS Business
Partnership Office at 704-866-6329 or email
businesspartnerships@gaston.k12.nc.us
New Immunization
Requirement (Effective
January 2008)
n 1 Tdap (Tetanus,
Diphtheria, Pertussis-Whooping
Cough)
Required for all students
entering the sixth grade on or
after August 1, 2008, if five
years or more have passed since
the child took the last dose of
Tetanus/Diphtheria.
Please consult your school
nurse with any questions
regarding student immunization
records or requirements.