Parents, friends, and relatives of our students are invited to fully participate in school life.  Your child’s education is founded on a collaborative partnership and we strongly encourage parents to find some way to be present in our school -- the positive benefits are many:

• Spiritually: Demonstrate your commitment while sending students a strong message about the power of service to the community and the importance of education.
• Academically:  There is a demonstrated link between parental involvement and student achievement.
• Socially:  Establish connections with other parents, making potentially life-long friendships and keep you connected to the students and families of the friends your child makes and who are part of his/her life.
• Financially: Keeps tuition increases down when fundraisers are successful — more parent involvement equals more successful fundraisers and less need to raise tuition.

We have a large range of areas where parents and other family members can give service to our school; however, every adult over the age of 18 must meet certain criteria designated by the Diocese of Bridgeport before he/she may do so.   These requirements were put into place in order to help protect students from potential abuse.  The parental requirements are implemented in conjunction with student workshops to teach students, in an age-appropriate format, what they can do to be safe from predators.

VOLUNTEER/VIRTUS REQUIREMENTS 

All adults (over age 18) who wish to volunteer must have completed all the Diocese of Bridgeport Office of Safe Environments training in order to be a chaperone for any school-related activity or help in the classroom or at lunch, etc.  All requirements are outlined on the Diocesan site: http://bridgeportdiocese.com/safeenvironments/.

1. Create an account and sign-up for a free three-hour “Protecting God’s Children” workshop at Virtus.com (see instructions HERE. Courses are offered in Spanish. Spanish sessions will be noted on the site. Some classes are in-person while online courses are also available.
2. Review the Safe Environments Handbook (http://bridgeportdiocese.com/files/bishop/Safe_Environment_Handbook_2015.pdf ) and sign the acknowledgment form electronically.
   1. You must select the Diocese of Bridgeport/ St. James School as the location.
   2. Complete the “My Your Business” (MYB) criminal background check.
   3. Upon completion of the course, present your certificate to the School Office. We require a copy on file.

 5 -Year Re-Certification Rule:  Parents or volunteers who are already in the system MUST re-certify online through Virtus.org and re-submit your MYB background check electronically.

No Internet:  If you are unable to register online, you can call the Diocesan Office of Safe Environments for assistance, contact Erin Neil, Director of Safe Environments, at (203) 416-1406, or e-mail [email protected].

OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERING AT ST. JAMES SCHOOL

We have a great need for volunteers each day and throughout the year for many events that take place. Service is part of the commitment we ask of our parents, details of this requirement are outlined in our annual contract.  

If you would like to volunteer, but do not know in what capacity you can be of service, please call or email the school, at (203) 375-5994 or [email protected].  The following is a partial listing, in no particular order, of activities or events that require parental assistance/volunteers:

• Designer Bag Bingo – Specialty event held 2-3 times each year
• Hot Lunch Program helpers – all year
• Classroom Aids (certain grades/teachers) – all year
• Room Parents – all year
• Pie Sale – October/November
• Spiritwear Sales - throughout the year
• Touch-A-Truck (Late September)
• Black History Month Events - February
• Christmas Fair & Jingle Jog–  November
• Book Fair – October/January/June
• Basketball Tournament – January
• Auction- Spring
• Halloween Dance & Trunk-Or-Treat!
• Movie Nights (Fridays throughout the year)
• Restaurant Nights (all year)
• Open House (Sunday of Catholic Schools Week January)
• Grandparents & Special Friends Day – April/May
• Golf Tournament (TBD)
• Walkathon - Spring

We also have Parents groups -- a Father's Club and Mother's Club!