PTSA

Stay Connected!

Our PTSA page allows parents to stay involved with what activities are happening on campus. We share ways to volunteer or just beware of what is coming up on the Buchser or district calendar. You don't not need to be a PTSA member to be informed, although we would encourage you to be, because, after all, PTSA supports your student.

Here are some of the ways to stay connected with the Buchser PTA and community:

Buchser PTSA Page

Upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, documents, and more will be posted right here.

Facebook Group

Those who have a Facebook account can stay in touch with the Buchser community by joining the Buchser Middle School PTSA Facebook Group.  The membership requires approval. Please submit your request on Facebook.

Questions? Contact our membership officer at membership@buchserpta.org.

Every Child. One Voice.

---

Hello Buchser Community!

Please be part of Buchser PTSA and support activities designed to enrich our students' lives at Buchser. You can now register online.  

Be a member and learn first-hand about opportunities to support Buchser.

HOW TO JOIN:
Totem is a new, easy way to join the Buchser PTSA and pay your membership dues. Please note that there is a $1 surcharge, so the total amount you pay will be $11. That extra $1 assists the Buchser PTSA with administration and communication, so please consider joining through Totem. Simply click this link and follow the instructions.  Thank you in advance!
https://jointotem.com/ca/santa-clara/buchser-middle-school-ptsa

PTSA Volunteers are Needed

There will be various opportunities to volunteer on campus for upcoming events. Parents will receive a SignUpGenius Form as these opportunities become available. 

All parent volunteers need to have a current volunteer form approved by the district office and school site.  

Below is the new process starting August 2026.  Any questions, please reach out to Annette Vizcarra at avizcarra@scusd.net.

You can have so much fun!  

---

SCUSD Volunteer Information

Volunteer

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Santa Clara Unified School District. We have many opportunities for you to share your passion by supporting our students and schools and helping where you’re needed most. Your support makes a meaningful difference for our students, and we are grateful for every person that gives their time.

Volunteer Instructions

Below are some important updates to our volunteer process for the 2026-2027 school year. A new California state law — Senate Bill 848 (SB 848) — requires that volunteers who may have unsupervised contact with students complete mandated reporter training and fingerprinting. This law reflects the important role volunteers play in student safety, and we are committed to making the process as smooth and accessible as possible for our families.

---

What Type Of Volunteer Are You? 

Category A — One-time supervised event

• Examples: Guest reader, career day speaker, classroom party helper.
• What you need to do: Nothing in advance. Your principal will approve your visit, and you will sign in at the front office kiosk with a photo ID when you arrive.

Category B — Field trip chaperone, tutor, coach, or recurring volunteer

• Examples: Field trip or overnight chaperone, classroom tutor, athletic coach.
• What you need to do: Complete an SCUSD Volunteer Application (see steps below) and wait for approval. If you have questions, contact Nelson Hunter at nhunter@scusd.net.

Corporate and Nonprofit Volunteers

• Examples: Arranging a group volunteer opportunity
• What you need to do: Visit our Community and Business Partnerships webpage for more information.

---

 

What you need to complete before volunteering under “Category B”:

1. Complete mandated reporter training online (“volunteer” version) and download your digital certificate.
   • The state charges $10 for this certificate. If cost is a barrier, please contact Nelson Hunter at nhunter@scusd.net. 
   • Note: Mandated reporter training must be completed annually.

Spanish Mandated Reporter Trainings

​​​​​​The mandated reporter training is also available in Spanish .

• On your dashboard, click Trainings.
• Click the training you want.
• Click Change Language (bottom left).
• Select Spanish, type CONFIRM, and click Change Language.

2. Complete the volunteer application form.
   • Attach an image of your current government-issued photo identification
   • Attach proof of TB clearance (skin test, blood test, or chest x-ray)
   • Attach the digital certificate of your mandated reporter training
3. Get fingerprinted at the Postal Annex at Santa Clara Town Center.
   • The district covers the full cost of fingerprinting at this location only. Bring a printed copy of the fingerprinting “LiveScan” form linked in the volunteer application form (you can also ask your school office for a copy).
   • The district is also arranging for fingerprinting fairs — more details coming soon.
   • If you were fingerprinted as a volunteer through Santa Clara Unified in a prior year, you do not need to be fingerprinted again. 

Once your application and all required documents have been reviewed and approved, you will receive an automated notification that you are cleared to volunteer. Please note that the background check process can take, on average, two weeks and sometimes up to a month, so we encourage you to complete it as early as possible, especially if you plan to chaperone a field trip.

Questions?

If you have questions, need language support, or need help with the $10 training certificate fee, please contact your school's main office or reach out to us directly — Nelson Hunter (nhunter@scusd.net).

We are here to help. Thank you for your patience as we implement these changes, and thank you for everything you do for our students.

Human Resources Homepage