Family Involvement
Union Academy's Partnership Agreement outlines our family requirement of a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer service time per famly each year. Most of our volunteer hours are organized through our service teams, covering a variety of areas to support the staff and students in the programs and projects of the school. Please visit the team pages at left to find out team leader contact information and details about each team.
F.A.Q.’s about Volunteering
? What is my family’s volunteer requirement at Union Academy?
Every Union Academy family signs the UA Partnership Agreement stating their intent to support the daily operations of the School by volunteering a minimum per family of 6 hours per month or 60 hours per year of service hours to Union Academy. Finding, completing, and reporting volunteer hours are responsibilities that you accept as part of this agreement.
? How do I fulfill my volunteer hour requirement? How do I find my volunteer niche?
Participate in parent-managed UA Service Team activities. Get connected to a Service Team by attending the Service Team meetings that interest you, call a Service Team Leader to find out about activities, and complete the Volunteer Signup Form in the summer mailing or talk to the Family Involvement Coordinators.
Service Team meeting announcements, team activities, and special volunteer needs appear in the weekly Family Involvement News. Thousands of hours of opportunities are available during the school year, and reading your Wednesday Family Folder to stay informed will help you find ideas for ways to get involved.
? What can I count as volunteer hours?
Basically, you count any activity done by you or your family members in support of events or programs of the school. Service team activities, special events, UA family nights, and teacher and staff support all count towards your volunteer commitment. Remember to count hours for each family member involved.
Donations are vital to our success and greatly appreciated but don’t count as volunteer service hours except for the time spent planning, shopping, preparing, or delivering items. Dollar amounts given do not count as volunteer service hours except for time spent related to providing this type of donation. In addition, any service provided to you by the school related to your child’s education, such as a parent teacher conference or curriculum information night, does not count toward your volunteer hours commitment.
? How do I volunteer if I cannot be on campus during the day?
There are lots of off-campus opportunities! Here are just a few:
Attend or assist with monthly team sponsored Family Nights, such as Pasta Nights (Cardinal Athletic Club) and Kate’s Skate Nights. (Fundraising Team)
Assist with large special events on campus, such as the annual fall picnic, winter Holiday Faire and the spring concert. (School Activities Team)
Help with facility and grounds maintenance on a regular basis, on scheduled Saturday Cleanups, or with material donations. (Facility and Grounds Team)
Prepare food at home for school events. (Hospitality Team)
Request material donations from your employer, such as new computers, office equipment, furniture, TV’s, dry erase boards, projectors, papers, even vans or buses! (Office and Lunch Support Team, Technical Support Team)
Make phone calls. (Volunteer Support Team)
? Who can I personally speak with for volunteer ideas?
Marla Killion manages family involvement at Union Academy, and she would love to hear from you! You can contact her by email at mkillion@unionacademy.org or leave a message on either campus. (Lower School – 704-283-5678, Middle School – 704-238-8883)
? How do I keep track of my volunteer activities?
You will receive a Monthly Service Review Form in the Wednesday Family Folder. Return the completed form each month noting your activities for the current month and plans for the future. This form will also give you an opportunity to share your thoughts on family involvement specifically or in general. Remember, we are a community school and your input is important This is the only way that Union Academy documents hours, so be sure to fill it out every month. Forms are available in the Wednesday Family Folder several times a month, and at the reception desk of each campus or online at any time of the school year. Only hours reported by you will be documented.