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)
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.
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:
All volunteers complete a Volunteer Application. (www.oratoryschools.org).
For the safety of our children, all those without an Oratory ID badge will identify themselves by signing-in at the main office.
Volunteers operate in a position of trust; that is, Christian charity demands that information of a personal nature is kept confidential.
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.
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.
The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System reserves the right to amend this Handbook. Notice of amendments will be sent to volunteers.
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.