WELCOME TO THE VILLA

We are very pleased to welcome you as a member of our Villa Volunteer Team. Your help is essential in enhancing the education of our students.

We ask that you take a few minutes and read through this handbook. It contains Villa Augustina's volunteer policies and procedures. Hopefully, this information will help you better understand the volunteer program at the Villa. If you have any questions regarding these policies, procedures, or your own volunteer service please feel free to call one of the Volunteer Coordinators listed at the beginning of this handbook.

Thanks again for your time and we wish you a wonderful "volunteer career" at the Villa!

A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

I am sure you have heard the expression: Love makes the world go 'round, well I need to tell you that: Volunteers enable the school to go 'round! It is impossible for a school to offer more and more programs if volunteers are few and far between. Teachers cannot do it all! Here at the Villa we are so very fortunate to have so many volunteers who give so many hours in so many ways. I think we are one of the finest schools around and we have reached that high point because of great teachers, wonderful children and parents who volunteer, volunteer and volunteer some more!

Besides helping to build up the school, volunteers are teaching their youngsters the joy and obligation we all have to give some of our precious time to worthwhile causes. Children of volunteers will one day be the new volunteers! How often do I hear proud children say: My Mom is volunteering at lunch time or on the playground etc. Or my Dad is coming to school to talk to my class or to help coach our team.

Thank you for your generosity. You will never regret a minute you have spent in our school! May God bless you and your family for all the many things you do for the Villa!

VILLA AUGUSTINA SCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES

Villa Augustina School appreciates the valuable contribution made to the school by the volunteer assistance of parents and other community members. The following information outlines the procedures required to become a volunteer:

Volunteers shall:

1. Complete an information form describing their interests and availability. The form may request other information as needed.
2. Meet with the Principal, Faculty Member, Teacher liaison, Volunteer Coordinator or veteran volunteer.
3. Sign a confidentiality agreement and refrain from discussing the confidential performance or actions of a student with unauthorized personnel.
4. Disclose whether they have been convicted of any crime, the conviction of which has not been annulled, other than a traffic violation. The Principal will decide whether or not the individual may volunteer in the school.

Villa Augustina school shall:

1. Provide volunteer orientation, including:
   1. general job responsibilities
   2. description of school facilities
   3. information about routines & procedures
   4. volunteer schedule and place of work
2. Provide information and training regarding safety procedures such as fire drills and evacuation drills. Classroom teachers will discuss procedures with the volunteer in their respective classroom.
3. Provide supervision appropriate to the volunteer's activities and responsibilities.
4. Screen volunteers to ensure the safety of students.

VILLA AUGUSTINA CAMPUS

Our campus consists of two buildings, a playground, a baseball field and two parking lots.

Buildings:

School Building: The school building serves as both classrooms for grades 1 - 8 and a residence for a number of the sisters of the Religious of Jesus and Mary. These sisters occupy the Rosary Hall end of the first floor and the entire second floor. Please respect their privacy by not entering these areas.

The school offices are located on the third floor of the school building. You should enter the building on the first floor entrance by the teacher's parking lot. There is a buzzer that will ring to the office. Please let whomever answers, know your name and that you are a volunteer. Please proceed directly to the office to sign the visitor log book.

Rosary  Hall: Rosary Hall houses our pre-school, kindergarten, gymnasium and cafeteria. There are three classrooms on the outside edge of the building. The cafeteria is located on a second floor loft which overlooks the gymnasium floor. The large floor area is used for gym classes, masses, plays and other special events. Please go to the school office, sign in and obtain an entrance key for Rosary Hall.

Parking Lots:

Teachers Lot: This parking area located along the west side of the school building is for teachers and staff only. There are a few visitor spaces marked across from the teachers lot. Please use these designated spots only. Also, please do not park in the spaces at the rear of the building marked for the sisters.

Normand St. Lot: This is the best place to park when visiting the Villa. There is ample parking for all of our visitors. This is the same lot where you drop off and pick up your children before and after school.

Play Areas:

Playground: This is located behind the school building and has a number of swings and other recreational structures for the students to use.

Baseball Field:

This is located on the corner of Mast St. and Normand Rd. It is sometimes used for gym classes and community sports.

VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES

The Villa School volunteer is not a paid employee, but volunteers should conduct themselves as a professional and ethical member of the the school team. Outlined below are some of the day to day responsibilities of the volunteer.

1. Volunteers should submit a log of their hours to the Villa Volunteer Coordinator. This log should be submitted at least on a monthly basis. Submissions should be consistent with published forms. If you are volunteering on the school campus during school hours please sign the visitor log book in the school office.
2. Volunteers should try to keep all appointments and be prompt. We are aware that unavoidable situations arise that may preclude you from meeting your commitment. If this situation occurs, please call the office at 497-2361, so the faculty or staff member can make other arrangements, if necessary.
3. Volunteers should not hesitate to ask questions if more specific instructions are needed. Always follow directions and keep the faculty or staff member informed of your progress.
4. Please do not wander the halls or interrupt your child's classroom. If you wish to speak to your child's teacher please leave the teacher a note.
5. Refer any student problem that arises to an appropriate member of the Villa faculty or staff.
6. Confidentiality is critical when working in a school environment. You should not discuss any information of a confidential nature with anyone except appropriate school personnel.
7. The Villa has a dress code for students. Volunteers are asked to dress in a manner appropriate to the setting in which they are working.
8. Please discuss any questions about school policy or procedures or other concerns you have with the Principal.

VILLA AUGUSTINA HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

The Home & School Association of Villa Augustina School is similar to Parent Teacher Associations (PTA's) at other schools. ALL PARENTS of Villa students are members of the H&S Association. There are no membership fees.

The mission of the H&S Association is to:

• Maintain and improve understanding and communication between parents, faculty and administration
• Promote the ideals of a Christian Community among parents, faculty and administrators
• Contribute to the financial support of the Villa

The activities of the H&S Association are to:

• Plan and conduct social and fundraising functions which are in keeping with the mission statement
• Prioritize how funds raised will be spent to support the school

Officers for 2004-05

• Claire Savoy, President
• Carol Barrett, Treasurer
• Nancy Gamache, Vice President
• Christine Laskowski, Secretary

Meeting are usually held the second Wednesday of each month in the library. ALL PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

VILLA AUGUSTINA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is established to assist the Provincial Government and the school principal in the maintenance, operation and development of Villa Augustina School. This will be done in a manner consistent with the educational mission of the Religious of Jesus and Mary and the Christian philosophy of the school.

The Board's role includes long-range planning and development, operating policies and planning for the acquisition and utilization of resources as defined in the Preamble to the By-laws.

The board is a volunteer group of parents as well as community members. A Parent Representative to the Board is elected annually by the parents of the the student body.

THE SISTERS OF THE RELIGIOUS OF JESUS AND MARY

The Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary was founded at Lyons, France in 1918, by Saint Claudine Thevenet. The constitutions were approved by Pope Pius IX in 1847. The object of the congregation was to give young ladies a Christian education conformable to their social position. For this purpose the religious have boarding-schools and academies.

The first house of the congregation in America was founded at St. Joseph, Levis, Canada in 1858. In 1876 several sisters left Sillery to open houses in the United States. The first was in Fall River, MA., where the sisters now conduct a boarding school and a parochial school attended by 1200 children. The house in Manchester, NH was founded in 1881. There are a number of other schools in the U.S.

Villa Augustina was founded in 1918 as an all girls' Catholic boarding school. The school was the gift and dream of Msgr. Augustin Chevalier, pastor of St. Augustin's Church in Manchester for whom it has been named. For over 50 years the Villa served to enhance the spiritual and intellectual development of young girls.

During 1968, boys were admitted for the first time when the high school was discontinued and the elementary school expanded. Other changes over the years included the establishment of a kindergarten and pre-k as well as the opening of Camp Thevenet.

Today, the Religious of Jesus and Mary, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, members of the local community, parents, teachers and children all work together to make the Villa a "God enlightened place" for the students.