How many hours do you volunteer at school?

[chel]

How many hours (over the course of a 12 month period) do you (your family unit) volunteer at your dc school?

[lauren]

I'm a working mama and can't find a way to fit this in....

[momma2mingbu]

last year

I know that last year my volunteer hours were over 50 because that's the category I fell into for the PTA volunteer appreciation night. I don't know exactly how many though.

BACK TO ADD:
I have 2 kids in school this year.....2 different schools! So I expect my hours will probably go up. Right now I am doing 3 hours every other week.

[OnTheBrink]

I do about 5 hours a week or so between the two schools (cooperative preschool and Montessori). I don't know what that works out to a year - 200 or so?

[jkpmomtoboys]

I'm in the classroom twice a week for about an hour apiece + extra helping with parties, etc... My younger son's preschool isn't a coop, so not a lot of volunteering there this year...

[1xmom]

I am a full-time working mom as well. I am also VERY blessed in that my dd's school is right next door to my job. My co-workers are also very understanding when I take off. Last year between the book fairs and field trips (used vacation time), I did a good many hours (also took things home to cut up for teacher). Didn't go the the appreciation thing though. I also sometimes take my lunch break w/my dd and have lunch w/her.

[3boysmom]

Well, year before last I was PTA president (our PTA is extremely active...over 75 committees) and I logged over 1,000 hours that year. Now I average about 300 total - I have a child in elementary, one in middle school, and one in high school. Most of my volunteer time is spent in the elementary school.

[lab]

I volunteer at least 200 hours a year. I have three kids in school. That's where they are, so that's where I am.

I usually chair 2 committees and volunteer in each kids class. I am also ALWAYS available to help any other committee when they have a need.

[AmaLari]

I volunteer 3-4 hours a week on a regular basis, plus I come in for special projects, parties, and cultural days as needed.

[mata]

I wish I could do more, but I've signed up for 3 hours a week.

[Lucky Charm]

I thought it was for a week!

I am proud to say that I volunteered more than 100 hours last year.

I also worked and was in school.

[chellemarie]

Originally Posted by lauren

I'm a working mama and can't find a way to fit this in....

Instead of volunteering at school, could you volunteer *for* the school? If they do soup labels or Box Tops, those things always need to be cut and counted. Someone else can handle the collection promotion. You could also let them know you're willing to help at evening or weekend events - watch a booth or sell t-shirts at conferences? The school librarian might need help repairing and checking in books - something you might be able to do after hours.

If none of those work for you, they don't work. And if your PTA has meetings when you're at work, you can't help that.

[mommy68]

At the moment I'm only doing 1-1.5 hours per week helping my son's teacher with the weekly folders that go out with the stuff from the week before. I am the assistant to the head room mom so I will hopefully be involved with more things throughout the year. His school has several moms that have to do it all and sometimes it doesn't give the newer moms the chance to try stuff out because they take all the good opportunities. It kind of bugs me but what can ya do.

[ikesmom]

I want to but havent since my ds was born 13 mo now. Do you mamas hire a sitter for siblings or take them with?

[TiredX2]

Something working parents can do (at least in DD's class last year) was coordinate the Scholastic Book Orders. You can enter the orders from home if you want. Some teachers will also let you help do prep work.

Last year I did one day a week at DS's co-op preschool (so 2.5 hours) then volunteered 1.5-2 hours at DD's school. I also volunteered for the class parties and extra days. DP also volunteered weekly at DD's school and occasionally at DS's. He did at least one fieldtrip with each kid, too.

This year I plan on volunteering weekly in both classrooms (K & 3rd grade) and in the library once a week. DP will do the weekly classroom volunteering.

[momma2mingbu]

Originally Posted by ikesmom

I want to but havent since my ds was born 13 mo now. Do you mamas hire a sitter for siblings or take them with?

My MIL usually watches my youngest while I volunteer.

My daughter's school is trying something this year where you can bring younger siblings along though! You can't volunteer IN the classroom when you do, but you can get work from the teacher and take it to the workroom or PTA room to work on. There are even games and toys and a baby gate in the PTA room.

[Ruthla]

I have no idea. Last year, with a preschooler, I wasn't able to volunteer at DD's school at all. This year DS will be in K at the same school (with the same schedual) so I'll be available for a lot more stuff. Already I've volunteered to spend 2 hours checking kids' heads for lice this Wed, the day before classes start. That's 2 more hours than I volunteered last year!

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by ikesmom

I want to but havent since my ds was born 13 mo now. Do you mamas hire a sitter for siblings or take them with?

When DD was in preschool, DP & I took turns volunteering. One week you volunteered, the next week you watched DS.

When DD when to "real school" DS entered preschool and I volunteered at DS' one day a week and at DD's when DS was in preschool the other day.

This year they will both be in school.

I'l be watching a friend of mine's three younger kids once a week while she volunteers at her oldest daughters school.

[ccohenou]

I'll : but I don't do it. I have 2 smaller children, getting a babysitter isn't gonna happen during the school day. And honestly, the volunteer opportunities available do not seem to be directly beneficial to the kids or their education - more stuff like decorating bulletin boards and "planning a fundraiser to fund the next fundraiser." If this stuff is your deep passion, I salute you, but if I'm going to volunteer I'd rather do something that feels more productive (to me).
I will chip in supplies or bring a hot dish for a class party and such.

[LaLaLuna]

Last year I logged 100+ hours. Our school has it written into the charter that parents are expected to volunteer at least 40hrs/year. Not all parents are able to do this, but most do. They have many opportunities to volunteer, whether it's in the classroom, take home jobs, periodic site clean-ups... it's pretty well organized and easy to clock your 40 hours. My dh did a bit of design work to update their logo, letterhead, ads, etc. and I filled the rest between classroom time and sewing costumes for the end of year play.

This year we're only into the 1st week and I've already spent 10 hours sewing crayon rolls for my younger ds's classroom. I work full time but I love volunteering at the school- there is such a great community sense when you spend time with your kids, their peers, teacher and parents.