Volunteer
VOLUNTEER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES
We need your help!! The SLAM program is run entirely by parent volunteers. We have a role for everyone! Past volunteers are more than happy to provide support to get you going. If you want to buddy up, that is fine! If you just want to send emails, perfect! We would love to fill our *open* roles but if you see one you'd like to join, our current volunteers will gladly take the help!
Interested in volunteering? Fill out our Google Form and we will reach out!
SLAM COORDINATOR/CO-COORDINATOR
*OPEN for 24/25 School year*: This is a "behind the scenes" role that helps the SLAM Program run smoothly throughout the school year. This position may be filled by a single coordinator, or shared between 2 people as co-coordinators. Primary responsibilities include:
Spreading and sharing info about SLAM via an info night, Shark Bites, the SLAM website, fliers, etc.
Being a liaison between the school and program volunteers
Setting and managing the SLAM budget
Recruiting and communicating with program volunteers
SLAM point of contact (especially for parents)
Organizing the end-of-year rewards party for SLAM participants
SCIENCE
SuperSTEM: *Volunteer spot filled* This is a great "behind the scenes" role that runs approx Sept/Oct to May. You will receive a list of interested students, collect payments for non-GATE students, work with the office to set up the subscription, put student names/class on the issues to be distributed to classes, send reminders before due dates, collect issues to award points before returning, and post/email answer sheets (these are downloaded from the Scholastic site).
Science Builder's Challenge and Science Fair *OPEN for 24/25 School year*: These are both one time events that takes place in the Spring. You will receive a list of interested students. As the event nears, you will email out project requirements, details, and judging parameters (these will be provided to you). You will book the MPR event (through the office) and gather judges (can be teacher, parents, PTA, etc). You will also order and award prizes (we have a budget for this!).
Science Olympiad: *OPEN for 24/25 School year - Multiple Parent Coaches needed* You will work with a team of students to prepare for the Science Olympiad event held in Spring.
Odyssey of the Mind: *OPEN for 24/25 School year - Multiple Parent Coaches needed* You will work with a team of students to prepare for the Odyssey of the Mind event that takes place in Feb/March. The project should be student-led but a volunteer is needed to schedule meetings, keep kids on track and supervise.
LANGUAGE
Battle of the Books: *Volunteer spot filled* Our Sycamore librarian is already engaged and getting ready for this year! A volunteer will assist in communicating with interested students, promoting to classes/families, keeping track of participants/books, and helping facilitate for the actual Battle in Spring (get prizes, etc).
Word Master's Challenge: *OPEN for 24/25 School year* Prepare a group of students for 3 WordMaster's Challenges throughout the school year. You can decide whether or not to hold study sessions or simply send the list of words to students. Challenges usually happen in the library after school.
ART
STEAM Inspired Art Program: *OPEN for 24/25 School year - Volunteer needed to lead STEM portion of this program for 3rd-5th graders.* Lead a monthly class after school where students will participate in various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) activities with an emphasis on process-centered art. Program explores topics such as forces/motion, patterns, circuits, chemistry, geometry, engineering, buoyancy, and more as students create and experiment. Inquiry, collaboration, and an emphasis on process-based learning are at the heart of the class.
MATH
Math Olympiad: *Volunteer spot filled* You will work with the team to prepare for the Math Olympiad event in the Spring. There are various study guides that can be purchased online.
Math Madness: *Volunteer spot filled* You will support an online, team-based competition event that takes place each fall and spring enabling students to compete in leagues of weekly competition followed by a nationwide, single elimination bracket tournament.
RESEARCH
Research Projects: *Volunteer spot filled* This is a great "behind the scenes" role that runs approx Sept to March. At the start of the year you will set the topics and due dates. Year to year the topics tend to stay the same. You will create a sign up list for those who are interested and send reminders before each due date. You will need to award points to those who finish the projects on time. *Optional: If you'd like to display tri-folds in the library, you will coordinate with the librarian and students to gather the tri-folds, display them, and then return them.
San Ramon Valley Passport: *Volunteer spot filled* This role requires minimal time!! At the start of the year you will create a sign up for those who are interested. Before the due date (usually late April), you will send a reminder. Once the passports are turned in, you will award points and return the passports.