BLR Cougar P.A.W.S. Program

Bishop Reicher partners with parents to enhance the school environment by supporting our students, staff, and families' educational, faith, social, and extracurricular experiences through volunteerism and service. Parent volunteers are a vital part of the success of Bishop Reicher Catholic School, and when we come together in support of our students and mission, great things happen.

We ask each family to accept responsibility for their share of involvement in fundraising, volunteerism, and service. Parents are asked to acquire family volunteer points called Cougar PAW Points each year.

Here is how it works:

• Every family must complete 20 Cougar PAW Points for school-related volunteer/service/donation activities between August 1 and April 30 of each year. Volunteering taking place in May must be preemptively recorded.
• Points are to be earned by the students' parents (or close family members) only.
• Families may not bank points for future years.
• Families may not transfer points to other school families.
• Cougar PAW Points tracking operates under an "honor system," meaning families enter their points earned in ParentsWeb. All volunteer points are reviewed throughout the year by the school administration to monitor family progress toward the agreed 20 Cougar PAW Points per family per school year.
• Each family will be billed $10 for each uncompleted Cougar PAW Point (maximum of $200) on your family's FACTS account in May.
• The amount due will be considered a school fee, so final report cards and school records will not be released until payment is completed.
• Parents may earn points by volunteering for school events or donating needed items to make our events successful.
• Opportunities to earn Cougar PAW Points will be announced in our weekly Cougar Brief and on our website. The number of points to be earned will be attached to each opportunity.
• EIM Certification is required for all campus volunteers and parents in direct contact with children. Parents who are EIM certified will receive a button that must be worn at the campus events, so organizers will know they are EIM approved. EIM certification must be renewed every three (3) years. Go to www.bishopreicher.com/ethics-and-integrity-in-ministry complete an application or reapply for certification.
• Parents will be asked to register as a volunteer for each event and donations made so the points can be monitored.
• Examples of opportunities to earn points include donating treats to our monthly Sweet Shop, helping with the Parish Fall Festival, Grandparents Day lunch, Catholic Schools Week, being a Room Parent, etc.
• Example of how the points are awarded: Room Parent – 5 points, a donation to Sweet Shop – 1 point per dozen treats donated – max. of 4 points earned, Chaperone for Field Trip – 1 point per hour worked, Chaperone for Dance – 1 point per hour worked, Volunteer at Fall Festival – 1 point per hour worked Volunteer at Concession Stand – 1 point per hour worked.

Benefits of Volunteering:

• Building relationships with members of our community.
• Helping us unite as a community to work together toward common goals.
• Positively encouraging our students to pursue excellence in all that they do and have a love for helping and serving others.
• Sacrificing in whatever form brings joy to the heart.

How to log Cougar PAW Points:

• Log in to your ParentsWeb account.
• Select "Family" from the ParentsWeb left-hand navigation list.
• Select the name of the parent who has volunteered, then select "Service Hours" (link next to Parent Contact Info).
• Select "Add Service Hours."
• Select the Date of service. Select Description from the drop-down list. Enter the total points assigned to your duty. Select "Save." The service point summary will appear after saving.

Our goal is 100% participation from our families during the school year. working together, we can Grow the Growl.