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Supporting Academies Through Volunteering

Great Hearts Academies January 20, 2023 -

reading group in the libraryJanuary can be a difficult month for some. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are now behind us, and we forced to settle back into our usual routines. For many, this is where the winter boredom and blues kick in. It can be a particularly hard time for organizations that rely on volunteers as well. Everyone is eager to help and give their time during the holiday months but the spirit of giving tends to slump off in the new year. The antidote for of both these quandaries can be found in one easy solution – start your new year on a high note and find ways to volunteer. This benefits both you and the organization that you choose.

At Great Hearts, our lower schools are always looking for volunteers to help our academies run smoothly. Many parents find it very rewarding to help with their child’s school and use the time to build a good repour with their child’s teachers and school staff. It’s also a great way to witness your child’s interactions and experiences during a school day.

Shawna Zetah, Academy Support for the Archway Glendale Parent Service Organization (PSO), shared some ways that parents can get involved. “Kinder was my favorite grade level to volunteer in, I sometimes still volunteer in kinder even though my youngest is now in 2nd grade.”

Ways to volunteer:

  1. Adult smiling at a student working on an art projectShawna suggested signing up to be a Section Parent.  This position is ideally limited to 2 parents per class. Section parents help plan and run grade level celebrations and assist the teachers with communication. They also plan teachers’ birthdays and help with Teacher Appreciation Week.
  2. Volunteers are also needed to come in and do one-on-one reading activities with the students. Shawna said it is rewarding to watch kindergartners start by breaking up a word to reading on their own before the end of the year!
  3. Each month teachers have a team of volunteers come in and help complete data checks. The volunteers work with each student to assess where they are at with counting, number and letter recognition, phonograms, and sight words. This is another favorite of Shawna’s because she gets to witness so much growth throughout the year!
  4. Teachers will occasionally ask for help with copies and project preparation. Shawna said this is a great way for someone who has a busier schedule during the day to help. They can work on it at home and bring it back to campus.

There are many ways you can get involved and help shape the educational experience for your kindergartener at their academy.  If you would like to learn more about how you can help, contact your school’s PSO and get involved.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.