*This article was contributed by Laura Smart, partnership coordinator for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Looking for a way to stay actively engaged in your child’s education while showing students how much you value their hard work? So are thousands of other parents, school partners, community groups and volunteers throughout Virginia Beach. September is a busy month for school PTAs/PTSAs who work with school staff to offer meaningful opportunities for volunteers to support achievement for the more than 70,000 students currently enrolled in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS).
“We want to match the needs of our students with the expertise and resources that our community volunteers and partners are willing to provide,” said Jennifer Goodwin, PTA Volunteer in Education (VIE) Coordinator at North Landing Elementary School. Goodwin organized an hour-long training Sept. 18 for the more than 50 parents and grandparents who signed up to volunteer at her school.
In her eighth year as a school volunteer, Goodwin has earned her VIE Coordinator Certification by attending a 3-hour training session offered by the division’s Office of Community Engagement. Using the tools from training (and those acquired at a PTA State Conference recently held in Richmond), she set to work to organize the September event. Participants attended a morning breakfast, engaged in a “speed dating” get-acquainted activity to meet fellow volunteers, were welcomed by Principal Julie Risney who reviewed some of the school and classroom rules and then learned the procedures and guidelines that would make their involvement at the school an enjoyable and beneficial experience for volunteers and students. PTA members on the North Landing Board encouraged the group to reach out to them to share ideas or ways to improve some of the existing programs. Before sending volunteers on a tour of the building and to specialized training workshops, Goodwin thanked the volunteers for “believing in education and strong parenting” and assured them that they would have a good time together at the school while doing both.
Many schools throughout the division conduct similar volunteer training during the first few weeks of school and sessions continue at various points throughout the year as new volunteers connect with schools.
Do you have a genuine concern for students and schools and time to dedicate to help students reach their full potential? Then VBCPS wants to hear from you! Please visit the Volunteers in Education page of vbschools.com to complete a Request to Volunteer form. Community volunteers may bring the completed form directly to their neighborhood school or email it to Laura Smart in the Office of Community Engagement who will assist you with a volunteer opportunity.