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Volunteer Hours

Why should I turn in my volunteer hours?

DOUBLE YOUR GIFT TO YOUR CAMPUS:
Give your campus your time, then give them your hours.
With that data, your campus can:

• Continually document the level of community engagement at your school 
• Celebrate your volunteer program and elevate its importance on your campus
• Know where volunteers are working and spending the most time
• Define other volunteer opportunities to further engage parents and the community
• Raise awareness of the value of ALL CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS and ALL AREAS where parents support your school, (Booster Clubs, for example)
• Realize the value of off-campus and after-school volunteer support
• Use volunteer totals when applying for corporate and federal grants and campus awards
• To verify individual volunteer hours. Some companies ask for volunteer experience with job applications

Click here to download a 'Double the Gift' Volunteer Hours Reporting form, and return the completed form to your campus VIPS Coordinator. If you do not know your campus VIPS Coordinator, contact the front office at your school, or Martha Brown, Partners In Education Specialist Assistant at 281.396.2468.

Who should register and record volunteer hours?

• Parent volunteers
• Community volunteers
• Business volunteers
• Teacher volunteers (see note below)
• Mentors and tutors
• Guest speakers
• Science fair judges
• Campus Action Team members
• Booster club members
• PTA/PTO/PSG groups
• Junior Achievement volunteers
• Everyone who gives their time without pay

When do I sign in and record hours?

• Every time you enter a school to volunteer
• Every time you do volunteer work at home, or at off-campus school sponsored events

Where do I sign in and record my hours?

• Check your campus for the location of the VIPS sign-in book.
• It is usually at the front desk or welcome table.
• The Raptor visitor tracking system does not currently log volunteer hours, so please continue to sign in and out of the VIPS sign-in book in addition to the Raptor check in.
• Off-campus hours may be added to the VIPS sign-in book when you next visit the school.
• If you are unable to be on campus during the school day to record off-campus hours, contact your VIPS Coordinator and she will record them for you.
  

What is included in reportable hours?

Any hours that benefit the students, campus or district, directly or indirectly, should be recorded.
Reportable hours might include time spent:

• at the campus during school hours
• working on volunteer projects at home
• with booster clubs
• volunteering at athletic events
• chaperoning
• on PTA/PTO/PSG and student activities
• at volunteer-related conferences and meetings
• baby-sitting for children whose Mom or Dad is volunteering
• coordinating campus volunteer hours

Note:
Teachers who volunteer (without pay) their time for Katy ISD outside the scope of regular duties or not for the benefit of their own classroom may record their volunteer hours with a special notation “teacher” (carnival, special after-school activities, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteer Hours:

Why do I have to record my hours?

There are several reasons why recording your hours is important. The number of volunteer hours recorded by our volunteers helps us evaluate the success of the VIPS program. Documentation of volunteer hours may allow your campus to qualify for awards and corporate grants, and it reflects your commitment to Katy ISD and its students.

What is a volunteer hour?

Volunteer hours are any hours spent in work directly benefiting students, teachers, campuses or Katy ISD, at home, at the campus or outside the district.

Does the new Raptor visitor system log our volunteer hours?

No. School administrators need to know who is on their campus at all times to help them maintain the safety of our students, and your own personal safety, but Raptor does not log volunteer hours. PLEASE, continue to sign in and out of the VIPS sign-in book when you volunteer on campus in addition to the Raptor check in.

I would prefer that my volunteer hours are not recorded as I don’t want any recognition. Do I still need to record them in the volunteer sign-in book when I come to school?

Yes. Please log all your volunteer hours in the VIPS sign-in book to allow the time you spend volunteering to be included in the District’s monthly volunteer hours report. This includes hours donated both on and off campus. If you choose to decline volunteer recognition please contact your campus VIPS Coordinator.

I chaperoned the high school band/drill team/robotics team/FBLA/color guard students on their spring/competition trip. How many volunteer hours should I record?

Any time that you are responsible for the students, or their equipment, should be recorded as volunteer hours. This includes the time spent planning the trip, as well as the time spent directly chaperoning the students, or transporting their equipment. This applies to any school sponsored field trip, competition or sporting event that requires parent chaperones.

I sold concessions at the high school during our junior high school track meet. How and where should I record those hours?

Any hours volunteered off your own campus may be recorded in the volunteer sign-in book the next time you visit your child’s school. If your schedule does not permit you to be on campus during school hours contact your campus VIPS Coordinator to record those off-campus hours.

My neighbor watched my pre-school child while I read to my son’s kindergarten class. Is it true that she can record the time spent babysitting as volunteer hours?

Yes, babysitting for children whose Mom or Dad is volunteering is counted as volunteer hours.

I drive my FFA student to the barn each day to feed her pig. Are these volunteer hours?

No, the time an FFA student spends taking care of their animal off campus is considered ‘homework’, and a parent who provides transportation for their own student in these circumstances is giving ‘homework’ assistance, not volunteering. However, time assisting the FFA program and other students for a show or field trip are considered volunteer hours.

High school students came to our elementary school carnival and ran the face-painting booth for us. Should our VIPS Coordinator include their volunteer hours in our monthly count?

Generally, no. Many high school students are required to document their community service for one of their high school student clubs or organizations, or as part of their community service hours for graduation. They are responsible for maintaining their own volunteer records. There may be times when a student volunteers on another campus, and does not intend to record those hours for another organization. On those occasions the hours may be included in the campus monthly count.

Does the time I spend off campus working with a booster club count as volunteer hours?

Yes, volunteer hours in support of any campus activity should be recorded. For the working parent, volunteering outside the regular school day supporting their child’s booster club may be their only opportunity to volunteer. These hours are equally as important, and should be reported to the campus VIPS Coordinator. If you do not know the name of your campus VIPS Coordinator please contact the school office, or Martha Brown in the Partners In Education office.

I still have questions about volunteer hours, whom should I contact?

You may contact your campus VIPS Coordinator, or Martha Brown in the Partners in Education office at 281.396.2468 for more information.

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