Volunteer Participation

One of the most unique experiences that our school has is our Volunteer Participation program. This program is what makes Stepping Stones Preschool a co-operative preschool. It is a fun option to consider if it fits within your family’s needs. This program allows parents, grandparents, or other caregivers, the opportunity to assist around many areas of our campus including the classrooms, nursery, playroom, or kitchen and enter the exciting world of a preschooler. Being a volunteer is a lot of fun and helps our families save on tuition. Become a larger part of our preschool community and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Parent Aide Benefits

  • Once cleared to be a volunteer, a discount is applied to your monthly tuition based on your student’s enrollment schedule. To maintain this discount each month a minimum number of volunteer shifts are required. The total aiding discount is reflected in the Volunteer Participation tuition rate on the Classes and Tuition page. See “How to Volunteer” below for more details about required days.

    We understand there are shorter months and life events that could prevent our volunteers from meeting the minimum required shifts in a given month. Volunteers may proactively help additional days to be banked for future months if it is known they will not be able to meet the minimum days in an upcoming month. In the event of insufficient shifts in a month, volunteers may make-up days by aiding extra in the following months. If an account is persistently unable to meet the required aide days the tuition discount may be subject to reversal and additional tuition may be due.

  • Gain hands-on experience in the classroom. Our teachers and staff have years of early childhood experience and tools. Volunteers have the opportunity to take what they learn in the classrooms and bring them home to their own families.

  • The Playroom and Nursery are available in the mornings and PM Kids’ Club is available in the afternoon. These services are available for enrolled students and their siblings for free while you volunteer on campus, even if you’re volunteering on a day when your student doesn’t have class.

    Please see below for more information about each child-care option available to our volunteers.

  • Being a volunteer allows you to meet and build strong relationships with teachers, staff, and other families. Our volunteers are an important part of the Stepping Stones Preschool community and we couldn’t do it without them!

Childcare for Volunteering Families

Children will enjoy playtime and other age appropriate developmental activities. A snack is provided in both the AM and PM session. For kids in the Nursery, you may choose to provide your own. We ask you provide a change of clothes, a water bottle or sippy cup, and diapers if applicable. All siblings of enrolled students must have an Emergency Medical Information Form on file as well as current vaccinations or signed exemption forms.

All staff have an active Food Handler’s Card and are CPR, First-Aid and AED certified. All staff and volunteers are fingerprinted, background checked, and verified to be safe around young children. In addition to the previous qualifications, Nursery staff have completed safe diaper training.

Playroom

Hours: 8:30am - 11:40am
Ages 2 1/2 - Kindergarten

Playroom Registration Form

PM Kid’s Club

Hours: 11:30am - 4:00pm
Ages 2 1/2 - Kindergarten
Must be potty-trained.

Nursery

We are a Nursing-friendly campus!

Hours: 8:30am - 11:40am
Ages 8 weeks to 2 1/2 years old

Nursery Registration Form

Getting Started:

Complete the Volunteer Participation Forms as required by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and Arizona Department of Licensing. As part of these forms you will need the below items:

  • Signed Volunteer Information/Immunization Verification Form

  • A Copy of Your High School (or Higher) Diploma, GED, or (Un)Official Transcripts

  • Two Reference Letters

  • Mantoux Tuberculosis (TB) attestation form or a copy of a negative test taken within the past year.

  • Fingerprint Clearance Card provided by the AZ Department of Public Safety (DPS)*

  • Signed Criminal History Affidavit

  • Complete an online Background Check through AZ CBC https://cbc.az.gov

*Please note that fees for obtaining the Fingerprint Clearance Card or any other required items are not covered by the school.

Once you have completed the Volunteer Participation forms, please bring the completed packet and your physical fingerprint card to the office. The office will review and verify all required documents which can take up to a week. Submitting an incomplete packet may delay approval. Once approved the next step will be to complete our volunteer training to learn about your new role. This is an online course that covers what is expected of all our volunteers. Once this training has been completed, you will be given access to sign up for shifts.

Volunteer Participation Forms

How to Volunteer:

Sign-up Genius Aide Calendar

You choose when and where you want to aide by signing up on the calendar. The calendar is available online on the 15th of every month for the following month. For example, the January aide calendar is available beginning December 15th. Email and Reminder texts notify you when the calendar becomes available and include the calendar link, so be sure you are on the mailing list for both.

Need to aide on a day your child isn’t in class? Childcare is available to students and siblings at no charge in the playroom or nursery for parents while aiding in the classrooms.

Tuition Discount Requirements

There are multiple ways to fulfill your aiding requirements. We have aiding opportunities in AM Kid’s Club, AM classes, lunch bunch/playground, and PM classes that qualify as an aiding credit. You can fulfill more than one aiding requirement in a day. For example, a person aiding in an AM Class and lunch bunch on the same day would receive two aiding credits.

To receive the reduced tuition, you must aid a defined number of shifts each month, based on your child’s enrolled days.


If your child attends half days:

  • 2 half days/wk, aid 2 shifts per month

  • 3 half days/wk, aid 3 shifts per month

  • 5 half days/wk, aid 4 shifts per month


If your child attends full days:

  • 2 full days/wk, aid 3 shifts per month

  • 3 full days/wk, aid 4 shifts per month

  • 5 full days /wk, aid 4 shifts per month

DID YOU KNOW? If you aid more than the required shifts, you earn an additional $10 discount per extra shift!