Volunteer Services

In addition to generous financial donations, Dover families provide Chickering with thousands of volunteer hours annually. Volunteers enhance the experience of the staff as well as the learning of the students. Opportunities to support the Chickering community include:

1. Staff appreciation
2. Community hospitality
3. Room parents
4. Parent liaison
5. Picture Day
6. Library
7. Playground
8. Books from the Heart
9. Fifth grade graduation

1. Flipping pancakes. Yoga classes. Conga lines.
   Responsibilities of the Staff Appreciation committee include:

• Hosting the annual Bus Driver breakfast. Students write and present their own tributes while parents cook and serve.
• Providing events throughout the year to support the wellness of the Chickering staff. 
  One response from a 2007 yoga class underwritten by the Dover PTO:
  “This was something new I've always wanted to try, but the time never seemed right - A wonderful way to de-stress and get to know some of the staff better and in a different way, too. Thanks, again for such a thoughtful gift.”
• Hosting the annual Staff Appreciation Lunch. A large team creates a new theme, transforms the cafeteria, provides entertainment and gathers food from dozens of donors to thank the entire staff for their commitment to our children. Past themes have included a Hoe Down, the Red Sox, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, First Class travel and the 1970s. Quotes from past attendees say it all:
  “The opportunity to let loose with colleagues is a rare treat.”
  “It’s a highlight of the year.”
  “Once again, the parents outdid themselves.”
2. Coffee and doughnuts. Family Fun Night.
   Responsibilities of the community hospitality committee include:
• Providing refreshments at events such as Open Houses and PTO quarterly meetings.
• Hosting hundreds of kids and parents at a September kick-off event.
• Dancing for hours with the kids during the annual Family Fun Night.
3. Math games. Audubon walks. Memory books. 
   Room parents coordinate communications between individual teachers and families. The room parents coordinate volunteer opportunities within the classrooms, help communicate teacher expectations around participation, gather chaperones for field trips and help interested parents coordinate on optional classroom gifts. The PTO has developed strict guidelines for room parents to provide consistency across classrooms. 
4. What days are early release? Why do buses have colors and numbers? What is DEDA?
   Our Parent Liaison provides a contact point for families new to Chickering and to Dover. September’s New Parent Coffee brings together new families, the Principal and the PTO Leadership to exchange information, ask/answer questions and welcome newcomers to Chickering. This liaison also reaches out to working parents to find out how best to serve their needs.
5. Cheese!
   The PTO assists our school photographer in organizing class pictures, encouraging smiles, fixing collars, adjusting headbands and keeping the process moving. The day is far more efficient (and the photos better) thanks to these volunteers. 
6. Dewey decimal. Alphabetical order. 
   Parents volunteer daily to shelve books and help Kindergarteners learn to check out books via the bar-code system. This assistance allows the Library staff to focus on instruction.
7. Four square. Kick-ball. Swings. 
   Parents volunteer to assist the Chickering staff in monitoring the playground at recess. In 2008, the Dover PTO purchased a cart with jump ropes, hoops and balls for additional recess options.  Additional parental help adds creativity and ensures fair play. Playground volunteer guidelines have been developed.
8. Books from the Heart
   This committee organizes a book sale where families can purchase curriculum-enhancing books for the library in honor of a teacher or specialist. Committer responsibilities include volunteer coordination, book preparation and school-wide promotion of this February event.
9. Fifth grade graduation
   The Dover PTO helps Chickering celebrate the milestone of fifth grade graduation by organizing volunteers for yearbook, class t-shirt, class gift and celebration luncheon. The luncheon is partially underwritten by the Dover PTO.