Dear Game Room Volunteer:
Thank you for giving your time to a wonderful program. The Game Room is open on rainy days only on the following schedule:
October – DecemberMonday-Friday
January – MarchMonday-Thursday
AprilMonday-Friday
Rainy day schedule means that, if the weather is good and the children are outside for recess, you don’t need to work on the day you are assigned. See below for what to do on your assigned day to determine if the children will be inside or outside.
Bingo will be open every Friday January-March. If you are assigned to Bingo during this time period, you will work whether the children are inside or outside. You will receive Bingo instructions in December.
Please read the following instructions carefully.
1.At the start of the lunch period the aides in the lunchroom will allow up to 20 children to sign up for Game Room. (Your child and a friend will have priority in this sign up any time you are working in the Game Room. Please have your child approach the aide who is doing the sign up and tell that aide that you are working in the Game Room.) The aides keep track of who attends Game Room so that all interested children have a chance to attend.
2.At the end of the lunch period, one of the Game Room volunteers will go to the cafeteria to pick up the children and escort the children to the Game Room.
.Ask the aide for a list of the children scheduled to be in the Game Room. Please verify that all the children on the list come to the Game Room and keep the list during the activity time for accountability and in case of emergency (e.g. fire drill; see #7 below).
.Children who come to Game Room are required to remain there for the entire recess period. We have been instructed to allow no more than two children at a time to go to the bathroom and to send children to the bathroom in pairs; children are not to leave the Game Room alone.
3.Please arrive by 12:00 to get a Visitors ID at the main entrance and start setting up. Place small amounts of art supplies from the storage closet on each table. You may need to help younger children choose age appropriate games. To avoid chaos, it is best not to let a lot of children into the storage area at once. However, they do often need to use the floor space in that area for playing. If things get a little crazy, try a game of Bingo or team Hangman on the blackboard!
4.There will be 2 groups (with a max of 20 students per group), the first graders from 12:15 to 12:45 and the second and third graders from 12:45 to 1:15.
.You should go to the cafeteria to pick up the first group (first graders) at about 12:10. The rest of the first grade will go to the library. After a bit less than 25 minutes of play, have them straighten up, put game pieces away carefully, and gather their belongings. One volunteer can walk the first graders with the attendance list to the library. Give the attendance list to the Aide. Make sure you leave enough time to get to the library so they can rejoin their classes at 12:45.
.The second volunteer should go to the cafeteria to pick up the second group (second and third graders) at 12:40. The rest of the children will go to the auditorium (some third grade classes may also be in the gym). After a bit less than 25 minutes of play, have them straighten up, put game pieces away carefully, and gather their belongings. One Volunteer can bring the students to the auditorium. Make sure you leave enough time so they can rejoin their classes at 1:15.
5.Please ensure you leave the Game Room as you found it (hopefully clean and orderly!). If the children did not finish putting games and art supplies away, please do so, so it is organized for the next session’s volunteers and children.
6.If there is a lack of cooperation, Game Room can be referred to as a privilege when discussing with the children. In case of difficult behavior, you can send a child to the Main Office or use the telephone in the Game Room to telephone the office for adult assistance.
7.In case of a school emergency, the school office should contact the parent volunteers with instructions. If you need to leave the building with the children, bring along the list of children that are with you. Look for an adult with a walkie talkie. They will give you directions.
8.The entrance to the Game Room is located at the back of the lower level of the auditorium. You will find a staircase going down on your right. That will take you into the Game Room. Since it can be difficult to find the Game Room the first time, we suggest that you take a peek in before your first day.
Schedule
The volunteer list, with your date assignments, is attached. We’re counting on you to show up! There are 3 critical things we need you to do:
1.If for some reason you cannot make it on your scheduled date, please try to switch with someone from the list.
2.If you do switch, please let Alex, Kara and/or Sarah know so that we have an accurate master list.
3.If you aren’t able to find someone to switch, please let us know in advance so that we can try to find coverage.
The assigned dates are accurate as of the day we distribute the list; please keep in mind that some switches may occur, rendering the list inaccurate. If you know in advance you won’t be able to make your assigned day, please don’t wait until that morning to start making phone calls.
The Game Room will only open if there are two volunteers. If you find yourself without a partner, the Game Room will not be able to open, so please confirm with your partner before your scheduled dates.
The Game Room will only open if the weather is bad and the children need to have recess indoors. If the weather is good, you don’t need to work! If the weather is questionable, the volunteer with a star (*) next to their name should call the Murray main office at or slightly after 11 am (220-3700) and ask Deb, Sue or Cruz whether recess will be inside. That volunteer should then call the other volunteer to confirm.
If you have any questions, concerns, need for supplies, please contact us.
Thank you so much – we really appreciate your help!
Sarah CoadyKara VicinelliAlex Vought-Bohn
home 630-2217home 630-4895home 834-2945
cell 914-588-2279cell 914-374-0709cell
sarahcoady@verizon.netkvicninelli@yahoo.comavought@optonline.net