This article was first published in Journeys Summer 2023.

Each time you visit campus, there’s a good chance that you’ll interact with a parent volunteer. Every day, parents like you are volunteering as much or as little time as they can offer to enrich the experiences of our school community.

The reason why? Volunteering makes us feel good! Being an active part of the school community gives a sense of achievement and purpose, and most importantly, belonging. This is especially true for new families joining our community; we can relate to the feeling of bewilderment during those first weeks of being in a new school. Making connections with other parents through volunteering can really help with the settling in process and give better insight into your children’s school experience—particularly if the daily question, “How was your day at school?” elicits responses of the one-word variety!

Read on to find out various parent volunteer roles at SAS, and please do connect with our associate director of parent engagement Julia Harrison at jfharrison@sas.edu.sg with any questions—together we can find the perfect role to suit your time and talents!

FOR THE EARLY BIRDS: Woodlands Avenue crossing traffic wardens

Our Woodlands Avenue crossing volunteers help ensure our Eagles start the day safely by monitoring the crosswalk leading to the pedestrian gate into the elementary school. This role suits parents who like the routine of a regular volunteering slot while keeping the rest of their day free. Our crossing volunteers are a strong and supportive team who enjoy the rewarding sense of helping children come to school safety.

SHARE YOUR SKILLS: TRi Time, Catalyst, and Quest

TRi Time, Catalyst, and Quest are programs unique to SAS that allow our middle school and high school students to follow personalized learning programs. Volunteers are needed to supervise TRi Time in the middle school and to act as mentors for the Catalyst and Quest programs in the high school. Volunteering in these roles allows parents to catch a glimpse of the learning experience at SAS while sharing their professional skills. 

SUPPORTING SCHOOL MATTERS: Focus groups and field trips

During the school year, parents have many opportunities to get involved in school focus groups and field trips at all grade levels. Focus groups on topics such as curriculum reviews and SAS Reimagined are a great way to offer input and feedback. Another fun way to support student learning is to volunteer as a chaperone for a field trip—from museum visits to nature trails, our chaperones help keep our students on track. These opportunities are posted throughout the year in eNews and are the perfect way to help out as your schedule allows.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Booster Booth and PTA Store

We couldn’t talk about volunteering at school without a shout-out to our fantastic PTA and amazing Booster Club! These vibrant volunteer groups are bursting with opportunities to get involved; volunteers are recruited annually at the beginning of the first semester, and you can also volunteer throughout the year as a store volunteer at the PTA Cafe near the main gate and the Booster Booth in the high school. If you enjoy interacting with parents and students and you prefer regular volunteering hours, this is the position for you!