How to keep volunteering in schools
Today marks the first time in more than two decades that no church or civic group is overseeing a breakfast program in the Janesville School District. The district disbanded its many breakfast clubs in favor of federal funding for breakfasts that are being overseen by staff. District officials, however, say volunteers are needed as breakfast buddies to help children open their prepackaged foods and continue to mentor the kids.
Some volunteers, no doubt, will continue doing so.
If you’re feeling a sense of loss, like the new breakfast programs aren’t meant for you, the district says many other volunteer services are available. Among those shown in a presentation at the last school board meeting are serving as lunch and reading buddies, helping kids with math and spelling, helping with homework after school, teaching children how to play chess, helping with after-school clubs such as teaching crafts or games, shelving library books, cutting laminated items, helping with Market Day, organizing Clothes Closet items, helping manage teacher resources, volunteering for special carnivals and PTA nights, making copies in offices, donating time with students as rewards, correcting tests, working in the school store, working in the arboretum or courtyard, helping with general classroom duties, helping with book fairs and working with kindergarten centers.
More details on some of these programs might have been nice, or where to call for more information, but those weren’t provided.
If you don’t think the Janesville School District has a place for you to volunteer, consider the words of Jon Flora. You might recall his View of the Week letter we ran Jan. 12 that encouraged volunteerism. Here’s what he wrote to me in a follow-up email:
“I have been volunteering at Jackson the past four years, five days as week, with 13 different teachers. My day begins at 9 and ends at 3 or at 5:30 if (I'm) there for after-school homework class.”
If he’s not at after-school classes, you’ll find him at the Janesville Boys and Girls Club.
“I mentor for an eighth-grade boy over lunch once a week that I have known since fifth grade. There are so many children/kids needing attention with someone who cares. ... We are in desperate need of male volunteers/mentors in our schools. ... I think about the kids all the time.”
About his volunteer commitments, Flora adds: “I also have a most loving and wonderful wife!”
Flora says he’s also part of Big Brothers Big Sisters and has been mentoring a “Little” for 3½ years.
That reminds me of the letter we printed Jan. 19 from Melanie Wittman, Rock County coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rock, Walworth and Jefferson Counties. Too many children, she wrote, have no caring adult in their lives to give undivided attention or play games with or just sit and talk. The Lunch Buddy program can fill that void.
“As a Lunch Buddy, a mentor is matched one-on-one with a child facing adversity. The volunteer and child have lunch together and then spend the rest of lunch/recess talking, playing, reading and just being friends. Children with mentors feel more confident, positive, and have improved performance at home and school. You don't need to be a celebrity or an expert on kids to make a difference. You just need to want to make a new friend. A weekly visit with your ‘Little’ can be all it takes to keep the child motivated and on track. The smile you'll get each time you visit will stay with you all week.”
For information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 608-362-8223.
Plenty of opportunities in our schools are available to those willing to do a little digging to find the right program and time spot to fit their interests and availability.
While many volunteers understandably feel pushed aside with the demise of the breakfast clubs, please keep our community's needy children in mind. Continue to share your time with them.
I emailed the district last week about contacts for the schools and got the below list.
Craig High School, 401 S. Randall Ave.
Phone: 608-743-5200
Principal: Alison Bjoin
Secretary: Tricia Jones
Parker High School, 3125 Mineral Point Ave.
Phone: 608-743-5600
Principal: Chris Laue
Secretary: Rita Kettleson
Janesville Academy for International Studies, located at UW-Rock County, 2909 Kellogg Ave., Rms. W27 & W31
Phone: 608-758-6512
Principal: Karen Schulte
Head Teacher: Jane Thompson
Janesville Virtual Academy, located at Jefferson E.S.,
1831 Mt. Zion Ave.
Phone: 608-743-6600
Administrator: Kurt Krueger
Head Teacher: David Parr
Rock River Charter School, 31 W. Milwaukee St.
Phone: 608-752-8273
Administrator: Lisa Peterson
TAGOS Academy, 1350 N. Parker Drive (Arrow Park)
Phone: 608-931-8434
Principal: Kim Ehrhardt
Edison Middle School, 1649 S. Chatham St.
Phone: 608-743-5900
Principal: Jim LeMire
Secretary: Cindy Luebke
Franklin Middle School, 450 N. Crosby Ave.
Phone: 608-743-6000
Principal: Charles Urness
Secretary: Paula Stratton
Marshall Middle School, 25 S. Pontiac Drive
Phone: 608-743-6200
Principal: Synthia Taylor
Secretary: Denise Rankin
Adams Elementary School, 1138 E. Memorial Drive
Phone: 608-743-6300
Principal: Sally Parks
Secretary: Joan Spafford
Harrison Elementary School, 760 Princeton Road
Phone: 608-743-6400
Principal: Jessica Grandt-Turke
Secretary: Sarah Benish
Jackson Elementary School, 441 W. Burbank Ave.
Phone: 608-743-6500
Principal: Kristen Moisson
Secretary: Terri Berlin
Jefferson Elementary School, 1831 Mt. Zion Ave.
Phone: 608-743-6600
Principal: Kurt Krueger
Secretary: Rita Davidson
Kennedy Elementary School, 3901 Randolph Road.
Phone: 608-743-7500
Principal: Alison DeGraaf
Secretary: Susan Scott
Lincoln Elementary School, 1821 Conde St.
Phone: 608-743-6700
Principal: Shawn Galvin
Secretary: Gretchen Johnson
Madison Elementary School, 331 N. Grant Ave.
Phone: 608-743-6800
Principal: Veronica McMahon
Secretary: Kathi Steinhorst
Monroe Elementary School, 55 S. Pontiac Drive
Phone: 608-743-6900
Principal: Lori Burns
Secretary: Becky Kealy
Roosevelt Elementary School, 316 S. Ringold St.
Phone: 608-743-7000
Principal: Stacy L. Kelley
Secretary: Lisa Ramirez
Van Buren Elementary School, 1515 Lapham St.
Phone: 608-743-7100
Principal: Stephanie Pajerski
Secretary: Terry Terrell
Washington Elementary School, 811 N. Pine St.
Phone: 608-743-7200
Principal: Scott Garner
Secretary: Linda Ryan
Wilson Elementary School, 465 Rockport Road
Phone: 608-743-7300
Principal: Kim Peerenboom
Secretary: Jeanne Lee
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Feb 1, 2013 at 8:01 p.m.
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Most definately it isn't easy to volunteer and it will require persistence - but keep in mind Greg Peck's wise observation, the reason to volunteer is for the kids, they need the support and the opportunity to interact with role models in their schools.
Jan 28, 2013 at 10:15 p.m.
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Please volunteer at your nearest elementary school and or become a BBBS Lunch Buddy!!
There are so many school children requiring attention whether in the classroom or 1 on 1 reading, spelling, working with a group, or someone to have lunch with once a week.
Jan 28, 2013 at 5:07 p.m.
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Another easy way to support community schools is to save milk caps and box tops for education and turn them into your local school. Every little bithelps!
Jan 28, 2013 at 2:33 p.m.
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Volunteering isn't limited to schools. My church helps refugees from Myanmar, including helping the kids with their homework several nights a week. The options are unlimited if someone really wants to help others. Great blog Greg:)
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