Volunteer

Volunteering at Challenge

One of the things that makes Challenge School so special is the commitment of our families to volunteer their time. The school requires each family to volunteer a minimum of 25 hours per school year. This is a per family requirement, not per child. We have a very active PTCO, but this is only possible through the generous volunteering efforts of our families. 

We normally have numerous opportunities for you to volunteer – so many that most families end up volunteering well beyond the 25 hour minimum! Some ways you can earn volunteer hours are:

• Attend Check In, Back to School Night, Parent/Teacher Conferences and General PTCO Meetings (virtual attendance counts!)

• Help out at events like Cultural Night, Fundraisers, and Bingo

• Chair or co-chair an event/activity

• Bake/cook for Staff Appreciation 

How Do I Get Started? 

First, set up your HelpCounter account

We are using the HelpCounter system again this year to track volunteer hours. Detailed instructions can be found here. 

• If you have an account set up from last year, you are all set. These accounts have been rolled over to the new school year and you can begin recording hours.

• If you are a new family, the first step is to set up an account in HelpCounter. Go to Helpcounterweb.com/ci/volunteer and enter your information. The PTCO will receive an email to activate your account.

It is preferred that you use one account per family - it is easier to track the family requirement this way.

Second, update your Volunteering Interest Form

Once your account is active, click on Update Your Volunteering Interest Form to indicate what events/activities might interest you. This does not obligate you to work on that activity, but it is the only way we will be able to reach out to you to see if you would like to help when we start planning for that activity.

Returning families should also review this form to ensure it reflects your current interests. 

Logging Your Volunteer Hours

When you complete a volunteer activity, go into your HelpCounter account and record your hours. You will be asked for the date of activity, the number of hours you donated, and the name of activity. Don’t see your activity listed?  Choose At Home Activity or At School Activity, or simply email the PTCO Volunteer Coordinator to ask that we add it. Hours recorded are based on your best judgement of actual hours spent on the activity. Record your hours as soon as you can while it is fresh in your mind. Families not on track to complete the 25 hour commitment will receive email reminders during the year.

Volunteer Hours Reports

Volunteer hour reports will be pulled quarterly and send to families. Here is the link to get in your account and record hours. https://helpcounterweb.com/ci/volunteer/

Please reach out to Payal Ahuja if you have any troubles accessing your account at challengeschoolvolunteer@gmail.com

How Do I Learn About Volunteer Needs?

The best way to learn about volunteer opportunities is to fill out your Volunteer Interest Form in HelpCounter. In addition, read your email. Volunteer needs will be outlined in PTCO newsletters and in the weekly Wolf Tracks emails from the school. 

Questions about volunteering? 

Our Volunteer Coordinator helps connect people who NEED volunteers with people who want TO volunteer. Email challengeschoolvolunteer@gmail.com with any questions.

Upcoming Events for volunteering:

Are you interested in helping plan the fall fundraiser, the Wolf Run (fun run)? If so, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Payal, at the email address above.

Thanks in advance for volunteering!

Update from the District

New Colorado legislation has prompted a greater need to screen and document volunteers in our schools. Therefore, beginning January 2022, we must ensure that every volunteer completes a brief application to support activities in CCSD schools.  This information will be automatically linked to the Raptor System.  The good news is they only need to complete this form once per school year, and it will meet the requirement to volunteer in all CCSD buildings.

To access the form, please click on the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzU0OmVuLVVT

Definitions:  Volunteers are guests who are supporting students, completing tasks, and under the immediate supervision and direction of District licensed personnel. 

Visitors are guests who are solely entering the building to conduct business such as participate in a meeting, eat lunch with their student, or attend a school-sponsored activity. 

The safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priority. Every person entering our buildings must have a District ID or a badge printed from the Raptor System.