Volunteering/Virtus

“When schools and families work together to support learning children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more” ~Ann Henderson & Karen Mapp

St. Joseph School Volunteer Program Overview 2025-2026

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year with St. Joseph School! We are so glad you’re here and encourage you get involved in our many school activities designed to build community and help our school thrive.

Volunteers are an integral part of our school and have many roles including daily scheduled activities, event planning/participation and more. Most school events are run through the Home & School Association (HSA). A home & school association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a school. St. Joseph School’s Home & School Association focuses on Student Enrichment, Community Building and Fundraising. Preschool thru 8^th grade families are asked to help us reach our fundraising goals and grow in community while working alongside each other and helping ensure that all our great events and traditions continue to grow each year.

For the 2025-2026 school year: The school will be charging Home & School dues ($25 per student in PK-8), a volunteer fee ($225 per K-8 family) and is requesting 15 hours of volunteer time for K-8 families. Volunteer fees are refunded to families who meet this requested 15 hours of volunteering. We encourage volunteer participation in ways that fit your availability. Various volunteer opportunities will also be available for sign up online throughout the year. Volunteering on the playground as a recess monitor is an everyday need we have at our school. Students go outside every day, year round (with some weather restrictions) for recess and we are grateful for our midday volunteers who fill a vital role for our teachers and staff.

Our Home & School events are an integral part of who we are as a school community, we encourage families to help us keep the spirit of those traditions active this year. Please visit our Groups and Associations page on the website for more detailed information about events and volunteer position descriptions.

Track It Forward Instructions 2025-26
Track It Forward Link, logging your hours

Virtus

ALL volunteers who work with/around children must be Essential 3 (E3) certified. This process includes a virtual training, background check and a signed code of conduct; all of which are done through your Virtus account. Re-certification is conducted every 3 years and includes a background re-check and an online training refresher. Volunteer certification is mandated by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Archdiocese and is required for participation as a volunteer. If certification is not current, volunteer status will be suspended until brought up-to-date. All volunteers will have the support and resources of the Volunteer Coordinator, Shelby Pogatchnik: shelby.pogatchnik@stjosephcommunity.org. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Shelby at any time!

VIRTUS Account Registration Guide for New Users
VIRTUS Account Re-Credentialing for Previous Users
How to Report Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Brochure
Promise to Protect Pledge to Heal Brochure
Archdiocesan Victim Assistance Hotline Information

Sign Up Genius

Many of our SJS events use Sign Up Genius to schedule volunteers.

Express your interest in Volunteer Opportunities

Please enter your volunteer interest on our Volunteer Interst Survey for the 2025-2026 school year. V

School Day Volunteer Opportunities

Playground (Hours are 10:50 – 11:45am & 11:45am – 12:30pm)
Volunteers are needed each school day for the recess periods grades K-8. Volunteers help the assigned staff person supervise the playground.

Cafeteria Duty (Hours – 10:20am – 11:20am)
Volunteers are scheduled to help serve condiments during lunch. Volunteers also help with clean up such as wiping tables after students leave the cafeteria.

Visit All School K-8th 2025-2026: Sign up HERE!

Art Adventure
Art Adventure is a program that engages students with artworks from the MIA’s collection. Through the use of visual art images and the support of trained, school volunteers, artworks from MIA are sent into classrooms across Minnesota and beyond. The program encourages creativity, critical thinking, and global awareness through in-depth explorations of art across various cultures and time periods. Art Adventure is an opportunity for students to experience art up close and personal through reproductions, technology, and touch-and-feel props. To express interest in leading an Art Adventure experience for a classroom, please contact Lisa McCullough, St. Joseph’s Art Adventure Coordinator. A preliminary interest form can be found here. The date of the 2025-2026 program will be in November of 2025. Additional information about Art Adventure can be found HERE.

Field Trip Chaperones
When scheduled, field trips are arranged by teachers and the school office. Parent chaperones are contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator through email or by phone. Chaperones are chosen by lottery.

Other Gifts and Talents
Any talent or service that you can offer, please give the school a call and we’ll see what we can work out!

Home and School Volunteer Opportunities

There are many opportunities for families to volunteer for Home and School events throughout the year. A complete list of events planned by the Home & School Association can be found here. HSA Leadership Team position responsibilities outline can be found here.

The Annual SJS Gala Fundraiser Planning Committee

Throughout the year a leadership group is needed to help put together the largest SJS Fundraiser of the year. This year’s Gala will take place April 25, 2026. Planning meetings begin as soon as September of 2025! Please contact Shelby Pogatchnik if you are interested in being part of this important team!

Contact

For questions about volunteering at St. Joseph School, please contact our Volunteer and Safe Environment Coordinator, Shelby Pogatchnick.