CHEERS

Contact your building C.H.E.E.R.S. Coordinator if you are interested in becoming a C.H.E.E.R.S. volunteer. Click here to view the C.H.E.E.R.S. volunteer handbook.

CHEERS (Citizens Helping Educators Encourage Responsible Students)

C.H.E.E.R.S.is a volunteer group within the South Lyon school district. Their goals are to:

Increase parent, citizen and student involvement to improve the quality of education
Increase volunteerism at the middle school and senior high school.
Increase volunteer opportunities at the elementary schools.
Provide community volunteer opportunities.

In order to promote volunteerism in our schools it is essential for all school volunteers to adhere to a professional code of ethics. We ask that volunteers submit to the following items:

Attitude: Please come to school with a good attitude in an attempt to make this experience a good one for all involved.

Dependability: Please be dependable. The staff and students are counting on you!

Communication: We want your volunteer experience to be a learning activity for you so if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please feel free to voice them.

Confidentiality: As a school volunteer you will know the children who are succeeding and those who are struggling. Please remember that any information pertaining to the children specifically must be left in the classroom. We do not want to be responsible for sharing any information that might be detrimental to a child.

Support: As school volunteers we must place ourselves in a position to be of support to the teachers, staff, building administrator(s) and the students.

As school volunteers adhering to a professional code of ethics, you are part of the school team whose goal is to provide opportunities for all children to learn. You are a Professional School Volunteer!

Helpful Hints

DO—

ask questions if you don’t understand your volunteer assignment.
accept each child as he or she is and learn to appreciate each child’s unique qualities.
remember to sign in and out at the office each time you are volunteering.
remember to wear a CHEERS badge.
avoid taking sides in an argument.
maintain a sense of humor.
encourage students to do their own thinking.
be honest with students, if you don’t know the answer admit it and work it out together. This lets the student see that you are human and puts mistakes in perspective.
let the teacher be responsible for discipline.
respect confidentiality.
actively seek out something to compliment during each activity.
be friendly and kind. SMILE!
call the building coordinator if you are going to be absent.
respect a child’s privacy.
enjoy the good feeling that you get when you help.
keep your cool! You are setting an example.
try to correct errors in a positive manner.
COMMUNICATE when you have problems so that they can be solved.

DON’T—

be reluctant to ask questions about school policies and procedures.

let the children down—they depend on you.

intervene or contradict when a teacher has dealt with a problem.

bring upsets from home into school.

be afraid to laugh at yourself.

forget that a positive remark accomplishes more than criticism.

do student’s work for them.

make promises that you cannot keep. This will disappoint the children and destroy trust.

be hesitant about using whatever work space is available.

forget how important you are!