I. This Year’s Theme
III. VBS Service Project
III. Staff Requirements
IV. Job Descriptions
This Year’s Theme
Entitled, “Ready, Set, Go!”, our VBS will explore the missionary efforts of the early Church and Jesus’ final instructions to “Go, make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus’ work is far from over when He ascends into Heaven. His closest friends and followers will be needed to spread God’s love throughout the world and to tell the Good News. But are they ready for such a monumental task? Not quite! Learn how the Holy Spirit provided them with power to become effective missionaries and how we, through prayer and the Sacraments, receive the grace to follow in their footsteps. We’ll collect money for the missions, “meet” 3 missionary Saints, and a priest from Kenya.
DAY 1: READY? The Great Commission and Jesus’ Ascension, Saint Francis Xavier missionary to Asia
DAY 2: SET Pentecost; the coming of the Holy Spirit, Blessed Pauline Jaricot a French lay woman who founded the Pontifical Missionary Society of the Propagation of the Faith.
DAY 3: GO! Phillip and the Ethiopian, loving with the heart of a missionary, Saint Therese of Lisieux Patroness of Catholic Missions
VBS Service Project:
Children will be encouraged to be “little missionaries” in three ways:
Donate money to support the foreign missions. Kids will be given a collection box from the Missionary Children’s Association (MCA). They can ask friends and family for donations and are encouraged to perform small chores around the house to earn money for the missions. All money collected will be given on the third day of VBS to Fr. Paul Gitau, the priest from our diocese in charge of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Fr. Paul is from Kenya and was supported financially in his childhood faith formation and his seminary years with funds such as these. He will lead our Eucharistic Procession and talk to the children on Day 3.
Prayer: especially the World Mission Rosary developed by Venerable Fulton Sheen
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Sacrifice
Staff Requirements
(What is expected of me?):
We have the best staff in the diocese. Dedicated faith-filled adults and high-energy teens make the magic!
TIME COMMITMENT: Most jobs are a Tuesday -Thursday 8:30 AM -12:30 PM commitment (July 9-11) plus a Monday 7 PM orientation (July 8). (Exceptions: nurse, security, snack assistant, and Eucharistic adorer are available on a per-day basis. Adoration is only needed on Thursday.)
MANDATORY KICK-OFF MEETING: All VBS staff (adults & youth) must attend the Monday, July 8th, 7 PM orientation at St. John Bosco School the night before we open.
FEE: If it is not a hardship, please plan on donating $10 towards the cost of your VBS T-shirt. Matching shirts help us to quickly identify children & staff, build community, and are an important safety feature.
ADULT CASE “CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT” CERTIFICATE: Every volunteer must complete the Diocesan-required online CASE training, turn their certificate in to Nicole in the parish office, and complete the background check by June 15th. Please note: background checks are done through the parish office/diocese NOT this VBS Pro website. CASE training is valid for 3 years and takes only about 45 minutes to complete. Please verify with your parish (or the parish through which you trained last time), that you are up-to-date if you aren’t sure. Volunteers age 70 and over, only need to complete a background check.
- YOUTH CASE CERTIFICATE: Teens ages 13-17 are required to view a shorter, ten-minute online CASE video and turn their certificate in to Mrs. Fantauzzo. If you did it last year, you are all set with that part. All youth staff (including 12 year olds) must attend the in-person teen staff training meeting on Sunday, June 9 at 7:00 PM. Each young person & their parent/guardian sign a Code of Conduct. A note to parents: it is vitally important to the mission that everyone who volunteers for VBS have a genuine desire to serve. Anyone who does not comply with expectations will be sent home.
Jobs Requiring Additional Meeting(s) and Dates
- Classroom teachers (including preschool) will meet to explore the theme, receive easy-to-follow, detailed lesson plans, and preview books & resources. Available dates (choose one): Wednesday, May, 29, or Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00 PM. Lesson plans are ready now! Email Linda if you want a sneak peek.
- All youth staff must attend an in-person CASE training session on Sunday, June 9th at 7:00 PM (see above)
- Music/dance team will meet 2-3 times in June/July to practice. (TBD)
- Puppet Troupe will meet once in June/July to practice plus after the July 8th orientation meeting and the mornings of VBS on July 9 & 10.
Jobs & Job Descriptions:
ADMINISTRATION:
Director and curriculum: Linda Fantauzzo, linda.fantauzzo@dor.org, 585-645-4889
Assistant to Director/“Command Central”: Judy Joslin, Faith Formation Coordinator, Church of St. Jerome
CASE Training & background checks: Nicole Fantauzzo, Nicole.fantauzzo@dor.org
T-Shirt design: Claire Spears
T-Shirt order & behind the scenes support: Barbaranne McDonald
Please note the following symbols for eligibility based on age: Adult (A), Youth (Y). You are able to select multiple jobs of interest when completing the registration form. Linda will contact you to finalize.
Some key positions have already been filled and are noted in purple.
Teaching Staff & Key Roles:
(A) Classroom teacher or co-teacher (K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Supervise homeroom, teach one 30-minute Bible lesson per day, accompany children to assemblies and all their “specials”-art, music, gym, and supervise pick up. Breaks available. Most grades last year had co-teachers (and 4-6 teen assistants). Please indicate which grade level you prefer in the comments. Lesson plans provide attention getter, Bible point, summary, discussion questions, and recommended resources for various ages. Coloring pages, worksheets, and other activities are available. You choose from the available resources for each day’s thirty-minute lesson. Linda will make copies.
(A) Music & Motion Leader & Planner (Linda Fantauzzo): Select music. Teach songs and motions to four groups in 30-minute classes. Lead songs in assemblies using digital recordings/videos.
(A) Recreation Games Leader & Assistant (Jody White + ?): Select fun, active games for four age groups per day. Gather needed equipment. Provide direct instruction of game rules to children and supervise teen volunteers. Jody would love an adult assistant to help her supervise the teens.
(A) Arts & Crafts Leader (Rachel Jarmusz) Responsible for planning and procuring necessary supplies to teach four age-appropriate 30-minute classes for three days. Provide direct instruction and project samples. Lead a team of adult & teen assistants.
- (A) Snack leader (Janene Loughran): Determine menu being mindful of allergies. Solicit donations from parishioners and community. Shop for/order items. Direct volunteers in preparation and delivery of snacks to classes and keep staff break rooms stocked with refreshments. Place order for staff pizza party.
- (A/Y) Nursery/Preschool childcare: Provide supervision and a scaled back VBS experience for the littlest kids who are the children of volunteers (infant-age 4). Staff will work cooperatively to provide age-appropriate activities dividing up Bible time, stories, craft time, free play, and snack time. Preschoolers are welcome to join the kindergarten music class. If teaching isn’t your thing, you may work here as an assistant. Large preschool room and playground available. You absolutely can sign up to work in this room to be with your little ones. Optional preschool T-shirts will be available this year for a fee.
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(A) Teen Volunteer Captains: Adults with a heart for young people who can gather teens for morning meeting, supervise during break time, and ensure that all know where they should be. Help to channel and direct their energy and enthusiasm through positive reinforcement.
Assistants:
(A/Y) Teacher assistant (K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6): assist classroom teacher with handing out materials; take attendance; escort children to bathroom; and lead children to next activity. Interact and have fun with kids and be a cheerful presence in the room. If you have a grade level or teacher preference, please indicate in the comments box.
(A/Y) Music & Motion assistants: Do you love to sing and/or can you do simple signs? Looking for energetic, happy assistants who can model for children. Music folder with lyrics and links to all songs provided. Advanced prep required to learn songs & motions. If you play an instrument, we might be able to incorporate that.
(A/Y) Recreation assistants: Do you like to play sports? Looking for energetic folks who can set up gym equipment, demonstrate tasks, play with and cheer on children, and put up chairs for the closing assembly.
(A/Y) Arts & Crafts assistants: Do you like to work with your hands? Assist lead art teacher with set up, clean up, passing out supplies, and working with children to create art projects.
(A/Y) Snack/kitchen helper: Shop/pick up food (adult only). Prepare and serve snacks to various classrooms. Stock break rooms. Clean kitchen area.
Support staff:
(A/Y) Tech/AV Support on music team: Tech savvy individual who can cue and project songs on a screen using computer and projector during assemblies and music classes.
(A) Photographer/Runner: Photograph opening, closing & various classes. Deliver messages and communicate needs to “command central”. Procure necessary items.
(A) Hall Monitors/Security: Provide a safe environment both inside and outside the building. Screen and buzz in visitors, monitor hall activity, serve as crossing guard, ensure safety during procession with East Rochester police officers, do periodic bathroom checks, and empty garbage. Monitor express drop-off on West Avenue. May also serve on kitchen staff with this duty if you like.
- (A) Nurse (RN): Be on site, one or more days, to provide basic first aid and administer meds if necessary. Please indicate which days you are available in the comments box.
- (A/Y) Special Education Personal Aide: work one-on-one as a buddy to a child with special needs.
- (A) Substitute: fill in for an absent teacher or teacher assistant
Supplemental jobs (choose this AND another job from above):
(A/Y) Advanced Prep: Do you like to count out, sort, and label stuff? Are you crafty? We need to organize materials per classroom, make signage, attendance sheets, name tags, make copies, and cut shapes for art projects ahead of time.
- (Y) Dance Troupe: Learn and perform 2-3 choreographed group dances to VBS songs for assemblies. You do not need to be a Music Assistant to take part. This is an EXTRA teen job, so sign up somewhere else too! You need to be able to meet for 2-3 practices in June/July. Email Mrs. Fantauzzo if you want to see videos.
- (Y) Character actor: do you have a flair for the dramatic? Looking for 1 or 2 guys willing to lip synch rap lyrics for one song and 1 guy and 2 girls to dress up as one of our Saints to teach the kids during assembly. (Francis Xavier, Bl. Pauline Jaricot, Therese of Lisieux)
- (Y) Altar Server: needed for Thursday’s Eucharistic Procession and Benediction. 4 canopy holders, cross bearer, candle bearers, thurifer etc.
- (A/Y) Eucharistic adorer: assigned a time slot on Thursday for adoration in the chapel at St. John Bosco School.
- (Y) Greeter-warmly welcome families and help them find their classroom on Tuesday morning. Great for recreation assistants.
- (A/Y) Distribute T-shirts on Tuesday morning
- (A) Staff attendance check-in staff and help them find their name tag.
- (A/Y) Express Drop-off safety & security: greet kids at the curb on West Ave. and escort them to their classroom. This service is provided for working parents who need to quickly depart. Great for snack assistants.
- (Y) Puppet Troupe (Job filled) Teens have been practicing monthly since October.
Undecided or no preference:
- (A/Y) Put me anywhere! I’m happy to work in the area of greatest need.
