Community Engagement
- Community Engagement
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Parents and Families
- District Services
- Enrollment Information
- Back to School Immunization Checklist
- Bell Schedules
- Student-Parent Handbook
- WS/FCS Event Safety and Security Clear Bag Rules
- School Improvement Plans
- ACT and PLAN Test Information
- SAT Information
- Scholarships
- Community Resources
- Technology How-To Guides
- CLASS Access at Public Libraries
- PowerSchool Parent Portal
- Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
- Media Center Destiny Search
- MTSS Information for Parents
- Community Partnerships
- Volunteer and Get Involved
- Resources for Schools
- ESSER: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
- Let's Keep in Touch
- Contact Us
For Volunteers
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Who must register to volunteer and where can they register?
All individuals who want to volunteer for WS/FCS must register online through the district’s website. Volunteers can register anywhere they can get access to the web - at home, work, school, public libraries, etc. You can register by click the "Register Now" button on the How Do I Volunteer? page.
Upon registering, WS/FCS Community Engagement receives screening reports of volunteer applicants and review them to determine which volunteers should be cleared or denied.
Contact the Office of Volunteer Services at volunteers@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or 336.727.2696 if you have any questions or need assistance with an applicant’s status in the system.
Parents who want to visit their child's classroom or eat lunch with their child are not required to be an approved volunteer.
Volunteers must reactivate their existing application each school year to be re-approved.
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Are criminal background checks done for all volunteers?
Volunteer background checks are required for all volunteers with access to students. The online volunteer application also serves as a criminal background check form. All volunteers regardless of their level are screened through the NC Administrative Office of the Courts database as well as the National Sex Offender database to check for a criminal record. Individuals applying for unsupervised volunteer interests receive an additional national criminal background check.
There are no associated costs for these checks payable by the volunteer.
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How do I know if I am cleared to volunteer?
Applicants receive an email when they have been cleared or deined to volunteer. (Turn-around time varies, but most applicants are processed within 1-5 days).
If additional information is needed from the volunteer applicant, the volunteer and school volunteer faculty advisor will be contacted by email by WS/FCS Community Engagement.
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Do I have to apply to volunteer annually?
Yes. Each summer volunteers are required to reactivate their volunteer status simply by updating information. Renewing accounts each year helps WS/FCS maintain an accurate count of active volunteers. An automated message will be sent out in July each year with information.
You may also contact the Office of Volunteer Services at volunteers@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or 336.727.2696 if you have any questions or need assistance.
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Who can I talk to about volunteer questions?
Your first and best point of contact is the volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor at the school(s) where you will volunteer. Please contact the school for more information.
At the district level, contact the Office of Volunteer Services at volunteers@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or 336.727.2696 if you have any questions or need assistance.
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How are volunteer hours collected?
Volunteer time is calculated through the computer kiosk check-in and check-out system at each school. The school’s volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor has access to provide a report for volunteers as needed. Talk with the school's volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor for more information.
For Volunteer Coordinators/Faculty Advisors
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Where do I go to view cleared volunteers for my school?
Each school’s volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor can view their school’s cleared volunteers through the online volunteer management system.
Volunteer applicants must submit their information using the online application through a secure website, which protects their information from being lost or stolen. The online registration system also helps cuts down on the wait time for criminal background check approvals.
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How do I find out if my school’s volunteer applicants pass the background checks?
Upon registering, WS/FCS Community Engagement receives screening reports of volunteer applicants and review them to determine which volunteers should be cleared or denied.
Applicants who have registered online receive an automated email after they have submitted their application.
The school’s designated volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor and volunteer applicant receive an email when they have been cleared to volunteer. (Turn-around time varies, but most applicants are processed within 1-5 days).
If an individual’s name does not show on your online “Volunteer List”, they should not be allowed to volunteer. If additional information is needed from the volunteer applicant, the volunteer and school volunteer faculty advisor will be contacted by email by WS/FCS Community Engagement.
Contact the Office of Volunteer Services at volunteers@wsfcs.k12.nc.us or 336.727.2696 if you have any questions or need assistance with an applicant’s status in the system.
Parents who want to visit their child's classroom or eat lunch with their child are not required to be an approved volunteer.
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If a volunteer breaks the law after passing the background check, how will I know?
The volunteer management/registration system runs automated nightly criminal offense monitoring for NC. This way, if a volunteer breaks the law anywhere in North Carolina, WS/FCS Community Engagement will know about it the next morning and will inform the school principal and volunteer faculty advisor if the offense warrants a change in the volunteer's status.
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How will I see who is registered to volunteer at my school?
School volunteer coordinators/faculty advisors will have access to the online volunteer management system for their school. Central office administrators and the district’s Volunteer Coordinator will have access to all volunteer information.
Returning volunteers will need to update their volunteer profile and application by logging in at the designated time to reactivate their application, updating any contact information, schools or volunteer interests to allow the system to re-approve them for the upcoming school year.
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Will the system allow me to communicate with volunteers?
Yes, the online volunteer management system will allow you to export contact information for your school's volunteers. This will allow you to communicate with your cleared volunteers. This can be used for school announcements, reminders about assemblies/field trips, school events, or other communications applying to volunteers.
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How do I add an administrator for my school’s account?
The principals and volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor will have access to your school's volunteer information via the volunteer management system and will serve as point person for the school.
Principals can send their designated volunteer coordinator/faculty advisor names to the Office of Volunteer Services at volunteers@wsfcs.k12.nc.us so that appropriate access can be setup.