Chaperone Information

In order to Chaperone any event with the SCMS Bands this year, you will need to register to be a "Volunteer" through the FCPS Volunteer Portal.  Please see below on the steps you need to complete.  

Volunteer FCPS

Click here to sign up as a volunteer in order to Chaperone any activity or trip this year or click this link: https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps

Volunteer FCPS

Join us in making a positive impact in our community by volunteering with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Whether you have a few hours or more, your time and talents can support our students' educational experiences. Opportunities range from tutoring and mentoring to assisting with school events and activities. Become a part of our vibrant community and help shape the future by volunteering today!

How to Sign Up to Volunteer

1. Determine where you would like to volunteer.

   • Want to volunteer at a specific FCPS school? Click “Schools” and select your desired school. Once you select a school, you can browse opportunities offered at that location.

   • Have a particular volunteer opportunity in mind? Click “Help Wanted" for a list of current opportunities. Please note if you received an invitation to an opportunity via email but do not see your opportunity listed, you may need to sign up via the link in your email.

   • Not sure where you want to volunteer? Click “Programs” to browse a list of available programs. You may then select a school or sign up at the FCPS Division Office, which will place you with a school in need of volunteers.

2. Create a profile.

   • Once you have found a school or volunteer opportunity you are interested in, click "Learn More" and then "Sign Up" to register in the volunteer management system.

3. Follow application instructions.

   • Watch the Volunteer FCPS Orientation video.

   • Determine your anticipated volunteer frequency and apply.

   • Background checks vary by application and may require fingerprinting.

   • Some volunteer opportunities required an interview.

FCPS Background Checks

Fairfax County Public Schools is fortunate to have individuals, groups, and organizations that contribute time and energy to students as volunteers. Because student safety is of utmost importance, FCPS requires ongoing and frequent volunteers and those who meet one-on-one with students to undergo a background check. 

• FCPS covers the fees for background checks for volunteers and mentors. 

• FCPS is launching a new volunteer management system. Volunteer FCPS will provide a centralized platform for students, parents, caregivers, and community members to register and search volunteer opportunities in the division.

Definitions

• A visitor is any person on FCPS property who is neither employed by FCPS nor attends a Fairfax County public school. This includes, but is not limited to: parents; guest speakers; salespersons; representatives of the news media; students who are not enrolled in FCPS; an FCPS student who is not enrolled at the school or office they are visiting; FCPS volunteers; business partners; and representatives from a college or university. Volunteers are distinguished by their purpose of visiting FCPS. Visitors attend events (athletics, concerts, assemblies, school meetings, PTA events, etc).

• A volunteer is a visitor who provides their time, skills, or services to support FCPS without compensation.  

Volunteer Opportunity Levels 

Volunteer opportunities fall into three levels, with requirements that match the level of involvement and supervision:

• Level 1: Infrequent volunteers (monthly or less frequent) who are always supervised do not need a criminal background check. However, they do need a sex offender registry check, which is performed by signing in at the school's visitor kiosk, usually in the front office.
  
  All volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.

• Level 2: Frequent, ongoing, or regular volunteers (daily, weekly, bi-weekly) who are also always supervised and field trip chaperones are subject to the same requirements as Level 1.

• Level 3: Volunteers with direct, unsupervised interaction with students.
  Only mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteers having frequent, direct, or unsupervised contact with students will require fingerprinting.

Reasons for Revising Volunteer Process

Our volunteers are a vital part of our school communities, and we deeply value the time and care they give to our students. Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students and staff safe.

These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care. 

We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intention is to ensure that everyone who interacts with our students meets clear safety standards.