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PENS Report

PARENT VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 

Parents and Educators Networking in the Spirit (PENS)
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…” 
(Mark 10:45)

Welcome to our volunteer team! It is our desire that every family be a school volunteer in serving our children.   We ask you to take a few moments and read through this handbook. It contains the Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System Volunteers Policies and Procedures. This information will help you better understand the volunteer program of the Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System. If you have any questions regarding our policies and procedures or concerning how you can specifically volunteer, please call the assistant of the director at 956-781-3056 ext. 509.

The Pharr Oratory Schools Parents and Educators Networking in the Spirit  (PENS) committee is one of the many opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s education.  PENS provides communication between parents and the school administration; educational opportunities for students, parents, and faculty; social events for students and their families; school-related activities to benefit students and faculty and fundraising opportunities.

The Future of Catholic Education is in our Hands

In giving life to our children, “parents have a most serious obligation and enjoy the right to educate them; therefore, Christian parents are especially to care for the Christian education of their children according to the teaching handed on by the Church.” (Canon 226)

Requirements

First of all, your children's safety is our priotity. Therefore, we want all volunteers to be adequately trained to serve your children with moral and doctrinal integrity. With this in mind, volunteers are required to complete the Protecting God’s Children Workshop as mandated by the Diocese of Brownsville. Certification is valid for 5 years. This workshop, in both English and Spanish, is included in the schools’ calendar of events. 

With your child’s safety in mind, the Catholic School Office of the Diocese of Brownsville will process a criminal background check of all of the prospective volunteers. 

Volunteer Opportunities

To be a volunteer parent, you will contribute not only to all children but to the school community and to its future. You can choose according to your talents and interests from these options: 

• Athletics – Parents assist the schools in organizing athletics events. The members of this committee help in fundraising projects, homecoming dances, pep rallies as an enthusiastic spectators rooting for the Oratory team, etc.
• Homeroom MOM/DADS – There are endless options for the imaginative mother or father who can creatively help and encourage teachers. Parents can assist in the educative process by suggesting ideas. Not all opinions can be practically realized; however,  we need your input so that, from your creative mind, many good things can and will, eventually, be implemented. 
  “With patience and time the mulberry leaf becomes silk.” Chinese proverb.
• Library – Parents work with the schools to promote literacy skills in English and Spanish. They work to organize the book fair, schedule parents to read storybooks to children, foster the reading incentive program, and support anything that will help reading. 
• “Noche de Alegría” – Parents help organize and find sponsors for an evening of dinner and dancing. It is our largest annual spring fundraiser. Experience has demonstrated the popularity of our silent and live auction of donated gifts that are usually both unique and beautiful.
• Academics:
  • Private School Interscholastic Association – In grades 1-8, parents can serve as academic coaches for the students in regional and state competition. As coaches parents encourage the participants during the tournament itself. At the competition, they can also serve as judges, graders, and hall monitors among other helpful positions. Some members help in the presentation of the 6th-8th grade One-Act Play. 
  • Science Olympiad – In grades 6-8, parents coach students for the science academic competition on both the regional and state level. They also help in the organization of the event, making travel arrangements and transporting the necessary equipment.
• Spiritual Formation – Parent support in spiritual matters is of utmost importance; especially, for First Holy Communion, fifth grade Vocation Day, Rosaries, and retreats. Parents can be group leaders, event organizers, and openly be witnesses of their faith. They, of course, should offer their daily prayers and masses not only for their own children but also for all the children of our schools.

Procedures

A. Application Process 

All volunteers complete a Volunteer Application. (www.oratoryschools.org).

B. Sign-In 

For the safety of our children, all those without an Oratory ID badge will identify themselves by signing-in at the main office. 

C. Confidentiality

Volunteers operate in a position of trust; that is, Christian charity demands that information of a personal nature is kept confidential. 

D. Volunteer Dress

The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System has very detailed expectations for student dress. Parents are their best model and should dress accordingly.

E. Inclement Weather 

When weather conditions make school attendance impossible, cancellations or changes in schedule will be announced through: (1) local radio and television, (2) the school website www.oratoryschools.org and (3) email–i.e., SchoolMessenger notification.

F. Right to Amend 

The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System reserves the right to amend this Handbook. Notice of amendments will be sent to volunteers.

Code of Conduct

The school belongs to the Church; you are the Church, so that on Church property we all, layman and cleric, are aware of the importance of giving Christian witness. So, as Oratory schools volunteers, we are, in an extraordinary way, sensitive to our behavior toward others. The Parent/Student Handbook provides helpful information in this regard.