BÉNÉVOLAT
Message de la coordinatrice des bénévoles, Jane Newhard-Parks

This is our fifth year at EB, Willow is now in second grade.  After volunteering since year one as room parent and Marche worker, I now have graduated to being the

volunteer coordinator.  My job is to make volunteering as accessible and enriching as possible.  I would like to encourage everyone to volunteer in some way, be it your first year or last!  It is a great opportunity to get to know other parents, teachers, administration and students. Evidence shows a strong connection between parent and family involvement in schools and children’s academic achievement, attendance, attitude and continued education (Henderson & Berla, 1994; Hickman, 1996). 

      Volunteering at EB can be as diverse as the students who attend.  Some like a more continuous role such as room parent, board member or annual fund volunteer. Others may like the one-day commitment of The World Celebrations Day, Marche, Picnic and Picture Day where you show up and work a shift and your commitment is over.  There is volunteering in your child’s room, driving on field trips, answering the call from your room parent or teachers for parties or special class events. You can also serve on the development committees of our two fundraisers, La Place du Marché and the Auction, and see the vision through.

     As a mom who works full time outside the home as well, I know the juggling act we all practice between spending time with our children and honoring all our other commitments.  Each of us has a unique talent, perspective and experience that we can contribute to the school community.  I am committed to enabling parents in finding what works for them

    Our new librarian (Colette, a teacher at EB for 23 years) is undertaking the overwhelming but exciting task of updating our school library and welcomes any volunteers for whatever time they can contribute. Teachers welcome parents in to talk about their careers, interests and talents.  Not all volunteer work needs to be done during school hours or at school. Making costumes for the school plays and emailing other parents are some examples of this.

  If you have read this far you must be interested!  Feel free to contact me for any help in finding your place in our volunteer community.  I look forward to volunteering with you!

Jane Newhard-Parks

shakaboom@comcast.net