Volunteers recognized, appreciated at Indian Creek
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WINTERSVILLE -- Volunteers at Indian Creek Local Schools were recognized for all that they do to help a child and make the world a better place.
The district highlighted National Volunteer Appreciation Week and signs, banners and other activities expressed support and thanks for all people do to help the schools. About 50 volunteer mentors with the Share Time and Read Together were recognized at Cross Creek and Hills elementary schools, while the digital sign at Indian Creek High School celebrated boosters, PTO members and other participants.
S.T.A.R.T. Coordinator Dawn Carson said her mentors have been recognized every year, but this time she incorporated the national theme. National Volunteer Appreciation Week was established in 1974 to recognize the impact of service and Carson said her colleagues have made great strides in schools.
"The purpose at the two elementary schools is to recognize those people and groups that give their time and energy to make our schools a better place for our students," said Carson. "The target groups are PTO members and families and S.T.A.R.T. mentors. S.T.A.R.T. is a structured mentoring program where targeted students are tutored by trained volunteers throughout the school year in grades K-2. This year, we have 50 volunteers with 30 at Cross Creek and 20 at Hills."
This year's theme was "Volunteers Make Our Schools Happy and Bright" and activities were held throughout the week to tout PTO members and mentors. Plans included posting yard signs at the elementary buildings, showing appreciation on the digital sign at ICHS, hanging banners in the schools and showcasing thank-you messages and artwork by the students. Youngsters in the S.T.A.R.T. program wrote messages for each of their weekly mentors while pictures will be posted on the schools' Facebook pages.
S.T.A.R.T. involves retired teachers, professionals, community members and Superintendent T.C. Chappelear, who spend time assisting youth one-on-one with reading, spelling, vocabulary and other literacy skills, and has been responsible for past end-of-year school celebrations which were partly sponsored by the Ohio Reads Grant. Carson said a mentor is scheduled for the same day and time each week for the duration of the school year, and it is a commitment.
She noted that some volunteers have given of themselves for more than 20 years or spend as many as four days a week working with the children. Among them are Jeff Greco, pastor of Crossroads Christian Church and president of the Indian Creek Foundation, who has served for 23 years, and Kathy Hill and Lori Jablonski, who are volunteering for more than 10 hours per week.
"Some were coming for two to six hours a day and some come for 10 hours," Carson added. "A lot of them are retired teachers and principals, nurses, paralegals, speech therapists and local professionals. We help students with what they are doing in the classroom and give them extra support. We celebrate our mentors all the time, always thanking them and celebrating at the end of the year. Every day is a day to celebrate volunteers."
Mentors Carole Kuruc, Joyce Kirkpatrick and Gail Christoff, who each have served for 20 or more years, are also retired schoolteachers while Debra Kovach and Barbara Cash have been part of the program for at least five years. Cash, who has spent six years with the program, volunteers at both sites three days a week and substitutes for a fourth day, if needed.
The volunteers said they enjoy being appreciated but love helping the children even more.
"I just love seeing the progress," said Kirkpatrick. "That's the best thing in the world, and the kids are always so happy to see us."
"We're surrogate grandparents," Kovach commented.
"It makes me feel worthy, useful and needed," added Cash.
"We get as much or more from the children," said Kuruc.
"This is the first time we are honoring National Volunteer Appreciation Week," Chappelear said. "I think Dawn has always done a great job recognizing our S.T.A.R.T. volunteers and they are very dedicated mentors."