Step 1: Fill out the volunteer interest form

Who needs to fill out the form? 

• Anyone signing up to help with a specific event
• Anyone who would like to be added to GC's volunteer list. Your responses will help us match you with various opportunities that might be of interest to you. 

To register as a volunteer, fill out the Volunteer Interest Form.

Step 2: Obtain volunteer clearance*

(*Required only for persons with substantial contact with children)

If you believe that you are likely to volunteer at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in a context that would involve substantial contact with students, please review the following information.

The Annotated Code of Maryland is very clear about the need for criminal background checks for school employees and volunteers. The purpose of the policy is to protect our children and our school.

Prudent practice dictates that we have background checks done for volunteers on our campus (or extensions of our campus) who will have substantial contact with children under the age of 18 years.

Substantial contact is defined as: Contact with children in which the duration and scope in both time and exposure to children is neither rare nor limited and may occur in a routine and/or ongoing basis. This includes all overnight activities with children. Examples of service to the school which will require persons to meet our volunteer screening requirements are chaperones on school trips, sales assistants in the school store, drivers to extracurricular events, and so on.

If you believe that you are likely to volunteer at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in a context that would involve substantial contact with students, please begin the process by completing the Application for Volunteer Service and return the application to us at school as soon as possible.

Note: Volunteers are permitted to serve while the reference check and criminal background screening are being performed. Continuance as a volunteer is contingent upon results of these screenings being acceptable to the School.

Volunteer Screening Information

All persons seeking to volunteer at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School must complete the screening process outlined above. We do not accept clearances gained elsewhere.

Good Counsel takes the matter of your privacy seriously. All volunteer personnel information is kept confidential and stored in a secure location.

If you have questions related to background checks, please contact Evelyn Nicholas, Human Resource Manager.

If you have questions about a specific volunteer opportunity or the status of your placement within a particular activity (e.g. music trip, service trip, etc.), please contact the coordinator of the activity directly.

Step 3: Receive volunteer information

How will you be contacted to participate in volunteer activities? 

• If you have volunteered for a specific event or activity, your contact information will be sent to the volunteer supervisor. 
• If you have filled out the form to be added to our volunteer list, we will review your information and forward opportunities based on your interests and skills. 
• Filling out the form does not guarantee that you will be contacted to volunteer.
• Volunteer opportunities will be posted on this page and in the Weekly News, so feel free to inquire about these activities if you have not been contacted.  

Step 4: Track volunteer hours

It is very important to know who is volunteering and for what activity for the following reasons: 

• We will be able to contact you in the future should similar opportunities arise.
• Giving of your time not only helps the school to save money, but by having this information, we can apply for specific grants that place an importance on volunteerism. 
• We are able to recognize and thank our volunteers. 

Once you have completed your volunteer project, please fill out the Volunteer Tracking Form. 

Step 5: Celebrate with us

To show our appreciation for your support, we host an annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception. All volunteers who fill out the Volunteer Tracking Form will receive an invitation to the event. We look forward to celebrating all that you do for GC!