Kids Care: Student Volunteer Program

Kids Care is a Middle School after-school service learning club (see web page) which has a long history of serving both the school community and the community-at-large. Several years ago a formal partnership between that club and the Elementary School was established to provide students in grades six to eight an opportunity to explore teaching as a career and also provide valuable services to the Elementary School.

Students fill out applications in the early fall identifying their strengths and their experiences working with children. Applicants participate in a training session where their responsibilities are discussed which include maintaining good attendance, confidentiality and being responsible citizens while serving in classrooms and throughout the school. Applicants are posted and teachers make their selections from the list. Students are assigned and then the partnership begins.

Students serve from once to three times a week following their school day. They work in classrooms, the offices, the library, the art room, in the music department and on 'special assignments' such as the recently added after-school intramural program run by the Physical Education Department.

Students receive written feedback from their mentors at mid-year and attendance is taken regularly so that Certificates of Service can be accurately prepared for each student and to include in their personnel folders. Students have served a range of hours from 10 to over 100!

This program has gained popularity with the staff since students have been charged with being responsible and the program has become more formalized. We currently have approximately 35 students placed throughout the school and have a waiting list as well.