Howard W. Hathaway Elementary School Volunteer in School - VIS Programs

VOLUNTEER DESCRIPTIONS

1. TUTORING
Volunteers will assist individual or small groups of students in the areas of reading or math. Each teacher will provide guidance. Tutoring generally requires a weekly commitment of 20 to 60 minutes.

2. CLERICAL
Photocopying: A weekly commitment of between 30 to 60 minutes photocopying teacher material.

Publishing Room: A weekly commitment of 30 to 90 minutes doing a variety of work, such as assembling student booklets, preparing covers, laminating teacher materials, photocopying materials and creating hard covered student books.

3. ROOM PARENT
A room parent is a liaison between the teacher and the parents of students in a particular classroom. All teachers are assigned a room parent. Room parents organize and coordinate donations and parent help for any activities a teacher may have in her/his classroom such as holiday parties.

4. ASSISTANCE
Arts for Life: An annual celebration of the arts with our children. Volunteers are needed to serve on the committee to help plan the event as well as to help with particular events held in the school and the community. This can include hosting artists at the school, demonstrating a talent of your own or arranging or baking for an Arts event reception.

Classroom Helper: Volunteers are assigned to assist teachers in the classsroom with various projects, on an as needed or regular basis, throughout the school year. A few examples include leading a reading group, cutting out craft project and helping with presentations. If you volunteer on a regular basis a commitment of 25 to 60 minutes each week is usually required.

Field Trip Chaperone: On an as needed basis, parents chaperone a field trip.

Health Screening: The school nurse conducts health screening of all of the children in the school. In October and November vision screening is completed which is comprised of checking each child’s vision as well as their depth and color perception. Height and weight is recorded as well. Several volunteers are needed to administer the tests and record the results. Morning and afternoon sessions are scheduled, each requiring approximately two hours. Training is provided.

Library: A weekly commitment of 25 to 60 minutes helping library staff with shelving and/or sorting books and assisting students.

Journey through Books Reading Program: All Hathaway students are encouraged to participate in our yearly reading program. Beginning in October and continuing throughout the school year volunteers interact with the students, one on one, discussing books read by the children. Volunteers are scheduled in the morning prior to the start of school and in the afternoon for the PM kindergartners. 30 Minutes per week is generally required. Volunteers have said this is a very rewarding assignment.

Resource Speaker: If you have a special talent, interest or knowledge that you would like to share with out students, please let us know. We occasionally have opportunities for Resource Speakers in our classrooms or at other Portsmouth schools and you may be the person we are looking for.

Special Projects: Throughout the year Dr. Martin, teachers and staff have occasional projects, which can not be classified in any of the above categories. Volunteers are often needed to help with providing assistance with projects such as collating, assembling badges, decorating for special events, etc. Usually, a commitment of only one day and varying in time, many of the projects can be completed at home.

5. KINDERGARTEN
Registration: Kindergarten registration is a week long activity held annually in March. Volunteers assist administration in answering telephones and completing paperwork for incoming kindergartners as well as providing pertinent information to registering parents. Volunteers are scheduled in two or three hour shifts.


6. HATHAWAY PARENTS ASSOCIATION (HPA)
Book Fair: A week long event usually held in November during National Reading Week. A display of books which are available for sale, is set up in  the school lobby. During the week children will visit the book fair display and have the opportunity to purchase books. Volunteers are needed to help set up and take down displays; help children and/or parents select books to purchase, fill orders and restock shelves. Many volunteers are required to staff the book fair. Operating hours are 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Monday through Friday with one evening (5 P.M. to 8 P.M.) during teacher conferences. Volunteer shifts are generally 2 to 4 hours in duration, but volunteers can help out for as long as they desire. Some of the proceeds from the book fair are used to purchase library books.

Hullabaloo: Held on a Saturday during December and before Christmas, the center of the event is a children’s shopping room where children are able to purchase small gifts (ranging for $.50 to $5.00) for family and friends. The are escorted by elves and their purchases are wrapped before they leaved the shopping room. There is also an opportunity to have a “Picture with Santa” and a pizza lunch. While waiting to enter the shopping room child can create a mini masterpiece at some of the craft tables. Volunteers are needed to help set up the tables in both the cafetorium and the gymnasium (shopping room), to serve the pizza lunch and to help children at the arts and crafts tables. Shift vary for 2 to 4 hours.

Italian Night: A spaghetti and meatball dinner in the cafetorium turned Italian Eatery> Volunteers are needed to set up the Eatery, purchase, cook, and serve food and return the Eatery back into the cafetorium. The time commitment varies from a few hours to cook or purchase the food up to 4 hours serving and/or cleaning on the evening of the event.

June Jamboree: A carnival type event held on the first Saturday in June, Approximately 50 volunteers are needed to make this event a success. There are booths to sell tickets, for prize giveaways, games, face painting, used books and video tables, food and crafts. A great amount of work is also required in preparation of the event. Volunteers are needed to organize various purchases (crafts, prizes, food, etc.) publicize the event and plan out the details of the day including contingency plans for a rainy day. The planning starts early, right after Christmas and everything comes together at the Jamboree. The level of involvement is up to the volunteer. It can range from donating a few hours to man a stand on the day of the event or as involved as chairing a small subcommittee such as the hamburger and pizza lunch concessions. All levels of expertise are required, Some booths require some carpentry skills to set up.

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