Why We Volunteer
Parent volunteering in HPISD is a proud tradition that began over 100 years ago, when the first cafeteria opened and was staffed by parent volunteers — something truly unique to our district. Many HPHS graduates still fondly remember seeing their parents serving them lunch!
Today, volunteers continue to provide essential support to our staff, enrich programs and services for students, and help the district save money — freeing up funds for important priorities like competitive teacher salaries. Did you know cafeteria volunteers alone save the district nearly $1,000,000 each year?
Volunteering is also a wonderful way to connect with other parents, community members, and staff, all while setting a great example of service for our students: "Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve." Plus, you might even catch a glimpse of your own kids during the day — and it’s a lot of fun!
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We would love for you to join us!
Volunteer Opportunities
Cafeteria
Volunteer as a server or cashier in our cafeteria! Shifts are on school days from 10:45 am to 1:30 pm. You can sign up for a regular monthly shift or pick up a single shift whenever you’re available.
If you'd like, you can also join our substitute list, and we’ll reach out when extra help is needed. We use SignUp.com to manage all shifts — detailed instructions are provided below.
If you have any questions or would like to be added to our substitute list, please feel free to contact our Cafeteria Volunteer Chair.
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Supply Shop
Volunteers help run our supply shop by selling school supplies, books, and snacks. Each shift has two volunteers, so you can sign up with a friend and make it even more fun!
Shifts are just once a month and available at lunch from 10:45 am–12:00 pm or 12:00–1:30 pm. You can also join our substitute list to fill in whenever needed. We use SignUp.com to manage all shifts — detailed instructions are provided below.
If you have any questions or would like to be added to our substitute list, please feel free to contact our Supply Shop Volunteer Chair.​
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Newcomers
Volunteer to be listed as a contact available for new families to the district. New families may reach out to you by phone or email with questions. Please email our Newcomers Chairs to be added. Please note the grades of your HPHS students and interest of your students, i.e. 9th grade boy plays football and 12th grade daughter is in Choir.
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College Night
Volunteer for a College Night shift. Shifts will be available morning, afternoon and evening to help set up and run the event on Wednesday, September 10. Email our College Night Chair to sign up. to sign up.
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Sci-Tech Fest
This year’s SciTech Fest will take place during the school day on Monday, November 17.
There are lots of great ways to get involved — help with attendance, support hospitality, serve as a speaker chaperone, or even volunteer as a dynamic speaker to share your STEAM career and inspire our students.
Email our Sci-Tech Fest Chairs for more information
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AP Testing
Help check in students before their AP tests and serve as a hall monitor to ensure a quiet, focused environment.
Shifts vary in length and run from May 4–15.
To sign up, please email our AP Testing Chair to sign up.
Sign up or Manage your shifts
To Sign Up for a shift:
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Click on the SignUp link.
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Choose Cafeteria, Supply Shop, or other event you want to volunteer for. (If you don't see the event, reach out to the Chair instead.)
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Choose the shift you want to work and then enter your email address.
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To receive text reminders about your shift, be sure to enter your phone number and check the box for text reminders.
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Click Save and Done.
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If you want to take a monthly shift, sign up only for the first occurrence of that shift. The volunteer coordinator will add the other monthly shifts, and you will receive an email confirmation when that is completed.
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To View Existing Shifts:
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Click on the SignUp link.
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Choose Cafeteria, Supply Shop, or other event you signed up for. (If your event is not on SignUp.com, reach out to the Chair in charge of the event instead.)
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Confirm your email address if the site remembers you. If it does not remember you, click Sign In at the top right of the page and then enter the email address you used when you signed up.
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Select the "Show My Shifts" checkbox.
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To request a swap (trade shifts with someone):
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Follow the instructions above to view your shifts.
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Then choose "Swap Request" next to the shift you need a swap for.
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Choose dates you could swap for.
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If someone accepts your swap request, you will receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive an email, your request is still pending. You can repeat the process to try again if needed.
TIPS ON SWAPS:
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The Swap Request feature will trade your shift with someone else's, meaning if it is accepted, you will be signed up for their shift and they will be signed up for yours. So only choose shifts you would be willing/able to swap for.
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DO NOT choose "Select All," as this will allow someone from ANY day to swap with you and swaps cannot be undone. If their shift doesn't work for you, you will then have to find a swap/sub for that new shift.
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Browse the shifts first to look for a friend who might swap with you and reach out to them separately. Then go in and submit the swap request for that date. (The request will go to all volunteers on that date, but you can enter a note that the request is for a specific person and others can ignore it.)
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If you cannot find a friend to swap, try sending a Swap Request to other shifts that are the same day of the week as yours (e.g. if your shift is a Tuesday, choose other Tuesday shifts).
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If you are not able to swap shifts or find a sub, reach out to your day captain for assistance.
Questions?
Email our Volunteering Scheduling Chair for more information.