A few months after moving here, I walked into the local elementary school and asked them if they had a volunteer program. They asked if I had any children/grandchildren attending the school and I said "No" and explained by background. They said that they had SpEd, but I asked to be put into a regular ed class.
So that was the start of one of the most full-filling journeys I've ever taken. Wailaua is a very "local" school. Most of the population being made up of families who grew up here and worked at the sugar mill. I think there's over 500+ students, a large caring staff, many who have been there 25+ years and a slew of volunteers. Every class has an aide for the language arts/reading part of the day. There is a full-time computer person and also a full-time librarian. All of the lunches are actually made in the school kitchen...none of that central kitchen, then frozen stuff here! It's like a"flash back", seeing the kids go down the line and get their scoop of this or that.
For all three years, I've been assigned to a 2nd grade class. I go three days a week for two hrs (sometimes more). On Friday, I go for an hour into another 2nd grade class to help during math. Heidi is very close to my age and looking at retiring next year. She's been at the school for over 25+ years! Her daughter is also a teacher there. She makes me laugh a lot.
This year the school started a new reading program, "AR or Accelerated Reading". There is a lot of computer work that goes into it, so this has become my job. I also work with small groups on various things.
Because I've become known around school, I was asked to serve on the "SCC" or School Community Council. This is very much like SIP, coming up with ways to allocate certain funds. This has also been a good way to get to meet other people in the community.
So as this school year is winding down (June 4th) they held a "volunteer thank you luncheon" and then we were recognized in front of the whole school. I was so touched by the lei,banner and card the class made.
So instead of them telling me "Mahalo", I think I should really be telling them Mahalo nui loa for all they've given to me.
Aloha
a hui hou
Jane
So that was the start of one of the most full-filling journeys I've ever taken. Wailaua is a very "local" school. Most of the population being made up of families who grew up here and worked at the sugar mill. I think there's over 500+ students, a large caring staff, many who have been there 25+ years and a slew of volunteers. Every class has an aide for the language arts/reading part of the day. There is a full-time computer person and also a full-time librarian. All of the lunches are actually made in the school kitchen...none of that central kitchen, then frozen stuff here! It's like a"flash back", seeing the kids go down the line and get their scoop of this or that.
For all three years, I've been assigned to a 2nd grade class. I go three days a week for two hrs (sometimes more). On Friday, I go for an hour into another 2nd grade class to help during math. Heidi is very close to my age and looking at retiring next year. She's been at the school for over 25+ years! Her daughter is also a teacher there. She makes me laugh a lot.
This year the school started a new reading program, "AR or Accelerated Reading". There is a lot of computer work that goes into it, so this has become my job. I also work with small groups on various things.
Because I've become known around school, I was asked to serve on the "SCC" or School Community Council. This is very much like SIP, coming up with ways to allocate certain funds. This has also been a good way to get to meet other people in the community.
So as this school year is winding down (June 4th) they held a "volunteer thank you luncheon" and then we were recognized in front of the whole school. I was so touched by the lei,banner and card the class made.
So instead of them telling me "Mahalo", I think I should really be telling them Mahalo nui loa for all they've given to me.
Aloha
a hui hou
Jane
1 comment:
Love the banner the kids made for you!
What a wonderful thing for you to give of yourself this way--our schools couldn't survive without people like you to invest in the lives of the students.
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