Parent Volunteer Groups in SSS

Parent volunteers are tapped on as a supplement of manpower and expertise beyond the school resource for enhancement of school learning experience. Various school programmes work with different groups of parent volunteers, namely the registered PVs with SSSPARK and the ad hoc parent volunteers, depending on the scale and need of the project.

1) SSSPARK (St. Stephen's School Parent Assistance in Relationship and Knowledge), our Parent Support Group was officially formed in 2007. Parents are invited to register into the group and are deployed currently to support large scale or school wide programmes, e.g. school decoration for events and festivals, recess activities etc. 

The link for online registration is open all year round. Registered volunteers and staff of the school can request to join the SPARK's FB face for regular updates on their activities. The SPARK official email and the the links to the Sign-up Portal and the FB page can be found in the school website under "Parents and Partners":

SSSPARK Email: sparkexco@gmail.com

SSSPARK Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/SSSPARK/

SSSPARK Signup Portal: https://forms.gle/oWBhPfypwKzk1XaGA

2) Dads@SSS

In tandem with the SG Dads for Life Movement, this is a new group formed at the end of 2022, currently at infancy stage. Dads@SSS is a team of fathers passionate about promoting healthy bonding between our fathers and sons of St. Stephen's School. One core role is encouraging fathers to be better role models and an enduring inspiration to their children.  

Dads@SSS currently has an organising committee and is on a recruitment drive, with 2 events held thus far by Term 1 2023:  

1) Father-Son Camp jointly organised with SSOBA (end 2022) 

2) Futsal Tournament (Term 1 2023).

Dads@SSS email: dads.at.sss@gmail.com

3) Ad Hoc Parent Volunteers, the general pool of our parents, are sought directly by respective project owners and/or level/class teachers through channels such as PG and ClassDojo, to volunteer their service to the school on small scale or level programmes.

SOP FOR REQUEST OF PV SUPPORT

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Submission of Request

• Project Owner (PO) duly fills up request form (S:\@Heritage and Partnership\Partnership - SSSPARK\Spark Request_Blank Form) and submits the completed form to Partnership Liaison Officer (PLO) via email or Whatsapp at least 4 weeks before the date on which PVs are needed.

• PLO looks through the PV Request Form and contact PO for clarification, if needed, before saving a copy of the PV Request Form into the Sharing Folder (S:\@Heritage and Partnership\Partnership - SSSPARK\SPARK Request\2023).

• (a) For Schoolwide Programme/Event/Project (e.g. event decoration, First Day of School), PLO will send email to SSSPARK EXCO for the PV request, cc to PO or Teacher I/C.

(b) For Level or Small Group or Class Programme/Event/Project (e.g. Level LJs), PLO will inform PV Requestors to get PVs from their own student groups using their own channels (e.g. ClassDojo). If PO is unable to get enough PVs, alert PLO 2 weeks before event date to contact SSSPARK for support.

• PLO will update SSSPARK of all activities where PVs are requested. This is the school's effort to maintain communication with SSSPARK who may be approached by other parents for queries on level programmes.

• PLO sends an email to SPARK EXCO with request form attached, cc PO.

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Briefing to PVs

• PO ensures PVs are secured 1 week before project / event date. If the request was submitted to SSSPARK and no one from SSSPARK has yet contacted PO 1 week before project / event date, alert PLO to check with SPARK.

• PO sets up and conducts briefing session for PVs as stated in request form.

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Refreshment for PVs

• PO arranges simple refreshment for PVs rendering their service to the school. 

[For short term / adhoc support projects, budget is $3 per PV per day. For long term projects, such as recess field duty, MTL recess storytelling etc., PO consults the PLO to discuss on suitable appreciation gestures.]

• After the project / event has ended, PO informs the finance officer to process payment for refreshment (e-invoice / petty cash reimbursement) using the approved budget raised by the Partnership Committee.

SSS Rules and Regulations for PVs

All PVs are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the school before they render their service. In addition, they are required to adhere to the guidelines set by SPARK.