How to Volunteer

    Family Involvement Makes ICS Special

    ICS thrives because families contribute their time, talents, and support. As an ICS family, you commit to volunteering at least 30 hours each school year. Most families find many enjoyable ways to get involved while supporting programs and activities that make our school unique.

    Did you know ICS was founded in 1997 by parents and teachers who committed to working together to create a new kind of learning environment. That spirit of partnership remains central to the school’s success today. Over the years, ICS families have contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to support our students, staff, and community.

    Our extended learning programs, including Camp Phoenix, Phoenix Day, Focus Week, clubs, and special projects, depend on family participation. The breadth and quality of these programs are only possible when families actively contribute their time and talents.

    Get Started in 3 Easy Steps

    1. Create Your PTSA Website Account

    Visit www.icsptsa.org and select Menu (3 short line icon) and then select Sign In under Member Login.

    • Click Don't Have an Account?

    • Complete the registration process.
    • Confirm your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
    • Allow up to 24 hours for account approval.

    If you do not see the email, check your spam, junk, or promotions folder.

    2. Sign Up for Volunteer Opportunities

    Help our Volunteer Coordinator by completing the volunteer interest form. Read the newsletter either in your inbox or online to look for current opportunities. And last but not least, join the Volunteering at ICS What’s App group.

    Many opportunities can be completed from home, at school, or during larger events such as Camp Phoenix and Focus Week. Here are roles and activities that need family support.

    3. Record Your Volunteer Hours.

    After creating your PTSA website account and signing in, you'll have access to the Volunteer Hours Form and Volunteer Hours List under the Volunteering menu. Recording your hours regularly makes it easy to track your family's contributions throughout the year. Hours must be recorded to count toward your 30 hour per family commitment. Volunteer hours do not carry over from year to year.

    4. Request employer matching for volunteer hours.

    You employer may offer financial matching gifts for volunteer hours. These are a substantial portion of the ICS PTSA budget and support many school programs. Please contact your employer to request matching for volunteer hours. When submitting a request, select: International Community School PTSA 2.8.89. Please note that the PTSA and the school are separate organizations.

    5. What Activities Count Toward Volunteer Hours

    Volunteer hours are earned through activities that directly benefit ICS students, staff, programs, or the school community. Examples include:

    • Serving on the PTSA Board or as a committee chair
    • Supporting teachers and classrooms
    • Assisting student academic programs
    • Supporting clubs and extracurricular activities
    • Chaperoning school events and trips
    • Participating in campus improvement activities
    • Helping with fundraising and community events
    • Attending PTSA meetings
    6. Family Volunteer Guidelines

    Volunteer hours can be completed by parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers, nannies, and au pairs.

    7. Students May Earn up to 10 Hours Doing Campus Clean Up

    A maximum of 10 student volunteer hours performed during campus clean up events (either exterior or interior) per family may be applied toward the annual 30-hour commitment. To include student hours for persons under the age of 18, the student must be enrolled at ICS.

    8. ICS Parent Meeting Hours Reporting Rules

    If you attend a PTSA meeting, record the lesser of actual time in attendance or 1.5 hours per family (not per person attending). You can earn hours for attending monthly PTSA parent meetings and for attending PTSA Board meetings, even as a guest observer.

    9. Overnight Chaperones Reporting Rules
    • Chaperones who are able to have a continuous day-time break of 6 or more hours during their overnight chaperone activities records actual time on site or 16 hours, whichever is greater.
    • If the nature of the event does not permit a continuous day-time break of at least 6 hours and the chaperone is essential on-call and does not have freedom of activity or movement (such as the ability to leave and return), the chaperone records actual time on site or 24 hours, whichever is greater.
    10. Extended Learning Event Transportation Reporting Rules

    Parent drivers for extended learning events may qualify for volunteer hours if the carpool includes two different families (one may be the driver’s family). Only driving time between ICS and the extended learning destination may be counted. Do not include time spent waiting if you are not also a chaperone. Normal or carpooled transportation to and from school does not qualify for volunteer hours.