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1610 E Emmaus Avenue
Allentown, PA 18103
Ph: (610) 351-0234
Fx: (610) 351-0307
mainoffice@arts-cs.org
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Volunteer with AACMS

Join our team of dedicated volunteers and help us provide the positive educational environment our students deserve! Our volunteers assist with student performances, fundraising programs, and other school events throughout the year. We maintain a list of our current volunteer needs and opportunities on this page for your reference. Please check back often, as our volunteer needs are constantly changing!

Volunteer Opportunities for High School and College Students

Looking for a way to earn community service hours? AACMS offers service opportunities to high school and college students seeking service hours towards graduation or other community service requirements. AACMS will gladly verify community service hours upon completion. Interested volunteers may schedule volunteer shifts using the links below or contact the AACMS Events Office by phone or email for more information.

Important Information for Volunteers

AACMS uses SignUp Genius to organize our volunteer information. Our current volunteer opportunities and sign up forms are listed below. Please use the online sign-up form to pre-register for volunteer shifts whenever possible. Pre-registration helps AACMS staff to anticipate staffing shortages and plan volunteer assignments. Volunteering at a Student Performance or Showcase

Volunteering at a Student Performance

Volunteer pre-registration will begin at least one month prior to each performance event. Please use the online form to register as a volunteer in advance. Walk-in volunteers are also welcome to join us on the day of the performance by meeting us in the school or venue lobby.

Pre-registered volunteers will receive a list of volunteer role assignments about 2-3 school days prior to their event as well as an automatic email reminder from SignUp Genius two days prior to the event.

Did you know you can volunteer at your child's performance and still watch the entire show? Unless otherwise specified on the sign up page, volunteering at a performance will not conflict with your ability to watch that performance as a member of the audience. Volunteer seating occurs just prior to the start of each show.

Volunteering at School Events & Fundraisers

AACMS also uses SignUp Genius to organize volunteers for other school events and fundraisers. The AACMS staff or faculty member organizing your event or fundraiser will contact pre-registered volunteers with specific information during the event planning process.

Questions? Please contact us!

If you have any questions or concerns about volunteering, please contact Andrew Worley, our school’s Development & Events Manager, at events@arts-cs.org or (610) 351-0234 ext. 505.

Current Volunteer Needs

Spring 2019 Volunteer Opportunities
Our spring Events Calendar is packed, and we need your help! Please consider joining us as a volunteer this spring and help us create positive and memorable experiences for our students and their families and friends! We are currently seeking volunteers to assist with each of the events listed below. Click on any event listed below to view our online registation form, powered by SignUp Genius.

Questions? Please contact the AACMS Events Office by phone or email.
None currently available - Check back soon!

Volunteer Information

As of July 1, 2015, Pennsylvania law requires all volunteers who work with students must have valid clearances. Clearance are NOT required to be updated annually, but must be less than one year old when initially submitted to AACMS. Answers for some of the most commonly asked questions regarding volunteer clearances and background checks are included below.

Are clearances required of all parent and community volunteers?
Not necessarily. Clearance requirements depend on the type of volunteer work to be completed.

Direct Contact with Students: By law, clearances must be on file with the school for any individual who will volunteer in direct contact with students. This includes but is not limited to:

Field trip chaperones

Volunteering backstage at a student performance

Volunteering during the school day

General Volunteer Tasks: There are many ways to volunteer at AACMS without obtaining clearances, including:

Attending Teachers and Parents (TAP) Organization meetings
Assisting at a performance as a Front-of-House volunteer
Helping at a public AACMS event (ArtDart 5k, Barnes & Noble Book Fair, etc.)

What clearances must be on file with AACMS?
Pennsylvania law requires volunteers to have three clearances on file with schools if they will work in unpaid volunteer positions in direct contact with students. These clearances are:

PA Child Abuse Clearance
PA Criminal Background Check Clearance
FBI Background Check & Fingerprinting*

*Volunteers who have lived in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for at least ten (10) years may complete a Volunteer Affirmation Form in lieu of obtaining the FBI Background Clearance. Any individual who is not eligible to complete the Volunteer Affirmation Form must obtain the FBI Background Clearance at his/her own cost.

How do I obtain my clearances?
Some volunteer clearances can be obtained online, with results for most applicants available immediately upon submitting the application. Please see below for instructions.

PA Criminal Background Check - Click Here to Begin
To obtain clearances at no charge, visit the PA Access to Criminal History website and click the link for New Record Check (Volunteers Only). Read the terms listed on the page and check the box at the bottom of the page to certify you are requesting the background check for unpaid volunteer work. Click Accept and continue the process.

PA Child Abuse History Clearance - Click Here to Begin
When applying for the PA Child History Clearance (also known as the Child Abuse Certification), volunteers must create or log into their Individual Account. When asked to select the purpose for applying on the application, select the Volunteer category and mark the box for Volunteer Work.

A third clearance or affirmation is also required according to the following guidelines:

Volunteer Affirmation Form – Click Here to Download
Individuals who have lived in Pennsylvania for at least ten (10) years may be eligible to complete the Volunteer Affirmation form in lieu of the FBI Criminal Background Check & Fingerprinting. If eligible, please complete the form in the presence of a notary and submit the form to the AACMS Main Office. All other volunteers requiring clearances must complete the FBI Background Check process as outlined below.

FBI Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting – Click Here to Begin and enter Service Code 1KG6Q9
Applicants must register online via the IDEMIA website. Payment for this background check is the responsibility of the volunteer and must be submitted through the website when completing the application. Please be sure to read and follow all instructions carefully. After submitting the online application, volunteers must be fingerprinted at an approved fingerprinting site. (A list of fingerprinting sites is available on the IDEMIA website.) Applicants will receive unofficial results of the background check by mail; the school will receive the official results and file them accordingly. For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.

This document from the Pennsylvania Department of Education helps explain the process further.

How do I file my clearances with AACMS?
Please drop off your clearances to the AACMS Main Office. The office staff will forward your clearances to the Assistant to the Executive Director for filing. You may also mail your clearances to the school at the following address:

Arts Academy Charter Middle School
ATTN: Asst. to Exec. Director
1610 E Emmaus Avenue
Allentown, PA 18103

How often do I need to renew my clearances?
Clearances must be renewed every five years. New or updated clearances can only be accepted if filed within one year of issue. AACMS is prohibited from accepting clearances more than one year from their issue date.

Who do I contact if I have questions?
If you have technical questions about how to apply for a specific background check/clearance, please contact the support hotline for that clearance or agency. For general questions about submitting clearances to AACMS, please email events@arts-cs.org or call the school at (610) 351-0234.