In truth: I am not the most loveable parent volunteer. I sign up for things, and sometimes forget about them. I am always the last person turning in a form, and I get phonecalls from teachers and coaches, gently reminding me to turn in or show up for this or that. But, my heart is there - I love volunteering at my public school, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. And I try to volunteer as much as I possibly can, because I know that improving the school is win, win; the school gets better, and the kids feel better about going.
It is Valentine's Day, and I thought I'd encourage you to do something loving for your public school. Go ahead, take a stab, even if you've never volunteered before. I bet your school could use some love - and it doesn't always have to be during weekedays, either. Ask your school about volunteering opportunities in the evenings and on weekends. I'm sure they will find something you can sink your teeth into.
I've got some ideas. How about getting in on the PTA? The Parent-Teacher Association provides leadership and support to the school, plus it's a great way to meet friends. You don't have to be a board member, either - you can be on the fringe, helping out when you've got the time. Our school has a separate but all-important volunteer organization, where you can just sign up and volunteer for a revolving door of tasks that need to be done: parents volunteer to have lunch with kindergartners, sort and stack books in the library, run the school store, etc. This is another win-win, because volunteer hours are tallied and used to get funding.
As you’re spreading the love this weekend, think about giving some love to your public school. Surely your school could use some.