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Volunteer Agreement

Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer with Lake Highland Preparatory School (LHP). To establish standard policies for the protection of our students and volunteers, LHP has thoughtfully provided the guidelines below. Please carefully read and sign this document indicating your agreement to the policies and guidelines below prior to your participation as a volunteer. Thank you for your willingness to serve the Highlanders today as we collectively work to help them become the leaders of tomorrow.

All volunteer participation and interaction should support and align with the Lake Highland Preparatory School Mission Statement:

Within an atmosphere of love, concern, and mutual respect, Lake Highland Preparatory School is committed to instilling Christian values, inspiring patriotism, developing leaders, and preparing students for college and lifelong learning through academically challenging programs and affirming competitive experiences.

Professionalism and Tone

Volunteers are representatives of Lake Highland and serve as role models for each student on campus.

  • Volunteers should project a professional image that meets appropriate dress and grooming standards for students.
  • Practice professionalism around students, so they may learn by your example.
  • Use a positive, encouraging tone while interacting with students.
  • Do not participate in conversations that are profane, abusive, inflammatory, or derogatory in nature.
  • Establish and maintain professional boundaries with students using the same standards of professional conduct used in school and the workplace.
  • Protect students from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and safety.
  • Do not criticize or present concerns, problems, or conflicts with individual teachers, administrators, students, parents, community members, or the school’s mission and policies.
  • Refrain from business solicitations or advertisements for a third party.
  • LHP is a college preparatory school with a mission to prepare students for college and lifelong learning.

Sensitive or Polarizing Topics

As a guideline, volunteers should avoid the following topics when interacting with students.

  • Avoid conversations of personal, political, or opposing beliefs. Examples include, but are not limited to:  Gun control, abortion, vaccines, and religious beliefs.
  • Refrain from making statements that are in direct conflict or opposition with published school policies or which do not indicate support for the school or its mission.
    • All currently enrolled students and their parents are bound by the "Cooperation and Adherence to Policies and Procedures' clause of the LHP Continuous Enrollment Contract.
  • Do not discuss or disclose health or disability information, sexual orientation, sexual matters, pregnancy, alcohol, drugs, finances, familial situations- divorce, separation, or child custody.
  • Sharing content or participating in conversations that are potentially triggering to students or adults must be predetermined and preapproved by Lake Highland Preparatory School.  Appropriate trigger warnings should be provided to participants in advance by Lake Highland Preparatory School.  Examples include but are not limited to suicide and self-harm, death and dying, eating disorders, abortion, violence, personal tragedy or trauma, alcohol or drugs.
  • If students disclose information to you which includes sensitive topics such as those highlighted above or indicate to you that the student needs adult intervention, please immediately report to the appropriate staff or administrator on campus.

Confidentiality

  • Student grades, test scores, AP® scores, and SAT/ACT scores are confidential and should not be discussed or shared.
  • Do not disclose confidential, proprietary, or privileged information.
  • Lake Highland may choose to use photos of alumni volunteers and students for promotional purposes.

Communication and Contact

  • Volunteers may not share or exchange contact information with any student without parental consent and acknowledgement from a supervising LHP staff member.
  • All communications between adult volunteers and students should be in writing, and parents must be copied on any written communications or text messages with students, along with the supervising LHP staff member.
  • Volunteers should not connect with students on social media.
  • Meeting with a student outside of Lake Highland sanctioned events is strictly prohibited unless with the presence of a parent or guardian.
  • Students may not ride in a car with an adult volunteer unless a parent or guardian is present.

Qualifications for all Volunteers

  • Cannot be listed on a state or federal sex offender registry.
  • Must have a clear criminal record, which means no felony convictions and no convictions for sex crimes or crimes involving minors. (*Some groups of volunteers working directly with students on an ongoing basis must pass a Level II background screening as required of professional staff)
  • Must be in good standing with Lake Highland Preparatory School.
  • Have security clearance, including:
    • All volunteers will be screened through the Raptor System and the sex offender database and must have a clear screening prior to beginning their volunteer role with students.
    • A valid state or government-issued ID is required.
    • Volunteers will be notified confidentially if they are not cleared.

Campus Policies

  • Volunteers must check in with campus Security at the main gate before entering campus.
  • Provide valid state or government-issued ID upon arrival.
  • Wear a security or event name badge at all times.
  • Park in designated areas on campus.
  • All campus guests must be always accompanied by an LHP employee.

I have read the Lake Highland volunteer policy contained within this agreement and agree to adhere to these guidelines.