Volunteerism
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Parent volunteer hours offered in 2025-26
As community is such a vital part of our school’s success, we invite parents to engage alongside faculty and staff to enhance the student experience. Volunteerism also helps keep costs down and efficiency up.
Twenty hours of volunteer service is required per family, with eight additional hours for families participating in school sports. Below you will find the numerous ways to contribute and earn service hours.
All hours must be documented by June 12 as all unfulfilled hours have a value of $25 which will be billed at the end of the academic year.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Art and Soul
Art and Soul is the school’s largest and most visible fundraiser, and we need help pulling it off. The event will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2027.
Classroom Coordinators
Classroom coordinators support homeroom teachers by serving as a parent liaison. Coordinators are asked to arrange parent social functions, organize parent volunteers for holiday parties, and support teachers whenever help is needed. Applications for Classroom Coordinators are due 9/1!
School Board
Offer your time and leadership to Alphonsus’s School Board! This group, comprised of parent volunteers, teachers, and staff leaders, collaborates to set strategy and discuss best practices and meets six times throughout the school year. Meetings are always open to parents–gain access virtual via the school calendar. Should you wish to serve on the School Board as an officer, please complete this form or email Principal Gerit McAllister at gmcallister@alphonsusacademy.org to discuss.
Alphonsus Ambassadors
Would you like to help welcome new families to our school community? Join us as a greeter at Admissions Open Houses, assist with Marketing initiatives, or post positive online reviews about your experience at Alphonsus.
Mothers' Club
Our Mothers’ Club hosts several events throughout the year such as monthly Hot Dog days, Trunk or Treat, Secret Santa Store, Ducky Derby, and Teacher Appreciation Week. Reach out with any questions!
Fathers' Club
Our active Fathers’ Club offers fellowship while supporting the school through capital investments and ongoing service events. Reach out with any questions!
Mentor Families
Current Alphonsus families serve as mentors to families who are new to our community. Mentor families set up playdates before school starts and are available throughout the year to answer any questions or provide support throughout the transition.
Athletics Volunteerism
Parents of students in grades 4-8, help support our athletics operations and earn volunteer hours! Sign up to help with concessions and admissions now.
Parent Workshops
Join Alphonsus staff to discuss academic, behavioral, and social-emotional milestones your child will experience this year as well as other relevant topics relating to adolescents. Topics in the past have included social media, at home-learning tips, and executive functioning.
We look forward to welcoming parents back again next year! Please consult this overview of our programming for 2026-27, and sign up for events today!
Grade Level Social Coordinators
Social Coordinators will arrange for grade level social events outside of school. Parents will coordinate 2 all-class meetups with children in attendance and 1 parent meet up. These events can be casual park playdates (Chi Che Wang, South Lakeview Playlot, etc) with all families in the grade. Adult meet ups can be at a local restaurant, bar or anywhere that an easy individual pay option is best. Reach out to our Director of Admissions, Madeleine Durkin, mdurkin@alphonsusacademy.org with any questions.
Blessings in a Backpack
Alphonsus partners with this national nonprofit to provide weekend meals for local students who may otherwise go without. Volunteers work alongside students to organize the donations, pack food sacks, and deliver the food to our partner school. We presently work with Jahn Elementary in Lakeview and Manierre Elementary in Old Town. Learn More.
Recess Supervision
Lighten the load of our staff by covering their recess duties! Parents are welcome to stay for one shift or the entire recess block. Sign up here.
Volunteer Certification
To ensure a safe environment, we require all volunteers to be in compliance with the guidelines established by the Archdiocese including VIRTUS training.
VIRTUS is a national program that works with Catholic organizations throughout the country to offer online and in-person training sessions. We encourage all school parents to be certified and require VIRTUS certification for all volunteering student-facing. The steps to become certified are listed below.
Please note: this applies to both new and current parents and will be strictly enforced for all student-facing volunteerism. This applies to all volunteer opportunities such as recess duty, Mystery Readers, and birthday visitors–any time adults interface with children. Grandparents and other caregivers are also invited to be VIRTUS trained.
1. First, set up your account on the VIRTUS portal organizes all the requirements, so step one is setting up an account. Please select “Chicago, IL” as your main location and “Alphonsus Academy” as your site and “Volunteer” as your role.
2. Criminal Background Checks are the first requirement, and are rechecked every three years.
3. Review the Child Abuse and Neglect Form (CANTS 689) which you will acknowledge and send to the office.
4. The most important (and time-consuming) portion of the certification is the Protecting God’s Children (PGC) training session. This is available online or on-site at a neighboring church/ school. Upon registration, you must complete it within 15 days. After initial PCG, recertification is required every three years.
5. The Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior is required to be signed online annually.
6. Finally, Mandated Reporter Training is required and recertified every three years, including the updated Acknowledgment Form (CANTS 22) which will be returned to the office as well.
- Note: You will only be able to select the online training option AFTER completing registration.