Volunteer Newsletter | March 2015
In This Issue:
MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT DRIVER

Dear Milwaukee Public Schools Volunteers:

 

Throughout the school year, hundreds of volunteers, in a myriad of capacities, help Milwaukee Public Schools in its mission to provide opportunities for all of our students to be successful. Every day, I see examples of how community partners are enriching our students' learning experiences.  Let me share with you a couple of examples from this past week.

 

Mayor Tom Barrett went to French Immersion to take part in their kindness challenge. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn read to students at Kluge Elementary School in celebration of Read Across America Day. 

 

Our volunteers also sort library books, monitor lunchrooms, and serve as positive role models.  A great way to help build a stronger community is to share your talents or time with our young people.   

 

National Volunteer Week is April 12-18. It is an opportunity to encourage people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities and demonstrate that by working together and pooling resources, we can create a better tomorrow.

 

However, as you have already demonstrated, there is no need to wait until National Volunteer Week to get involved.  Please join us for a series of discussions on how to improve student achievement for all Milwaukee Public Schools students.  MPS is developing a series of Strategic Objectives - eight big ideas to improve outcomes for students - as part of a process that aligns the district's budget process to our operational and strategic planning. The first of these meetings were very successful, drawing interested audiences from 50 - 100 per session. The complete list and locations of our listening sessions are available here.

 

Thank you for your service to Milwaukee Public Schools.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that everyone can be great because everyone can serve.   The more engaged our parents, volunteers and stakeholders are in our schools, the more it motivates our children to succeed.

 

Best,

 

Darienne B. Driver, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

 
MESSAGE FROM THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Greetings!

 

I have recently been able to spend some time alongside volunteers at a variety of schools, projects, and events.  I am continuously humbled by the generosity and willingness that I see coming from the members of our community who choose to spend time with our students.

 

National Volunteer Week is coming up, April 12-18.  I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your experience as a volunteer.  I hope you feel good about your contributions and know that you are appreciated!  Don't be surprised if the school where you serve invites you to a special event!

 

As always, THANKS for all you do!

 

Cheers,

  
Heather Aschoff
MPS Volunteer Coordinator
IMPORTANT DATES

Haven't attended a Volunteer Orientation yet?  RSVP to Heather if you plan on attending one of these informative sessions. 

  • March 20, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
  • April 24, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Volunteer orientations are held at the MPS Central Office, 5225 W. Vliet St., Room 206-08. Please RSVP to Heather Aschoff at (414) 773-9823 or by email.

  
April 3-10 all schools are closed!  Remember to check the appropriate school calendar for dates with no student attendance! 
  
April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week!  Find a way to celebrate your service! 
  
IMPORTANT NOTES
  • Please remember not to use your cell phone or electronic device while in the presence of students.  It is likely a distraction and may negatively impact student learning!
     
  • Did you know the volunteer application is available as a PDF in Spanish and Arabic? 
  • 75% of our volunteers are female!  We would love to see more male volunteers active in our schools! 
VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Volunteer Prentice Jones inspired to help 
McLeod Bethune Academy students succeed 
Volunteer Prentice Jones (L) with Principal McKay at Bethune.
Volunteer Prentice Jones, left, with Bethune Principal Carol McKay.

Prentice Jones enjoys sharing his life experiences with kids.

 

A military veteran, Jones believes children can learn how to overcome hurdles they may face in life from others who have held jobs, raised families and interacted with people from all walks of life.  It's why he volunteers at Mary McLeod Bethune Academy.

 

Jones spends one day a week volunteering in the classroom of Sylvester Jolley, an 8th grade teacher at Bethune. Jones became involved with the school's Be Present program, designed to help students understand that through education, self-discipline, hard work and goal setting, good choices can lead to a prosperous future.

 

Be Present was a good fit with Jones' military background. He wants to be a positive role model for students as he is for his five children of which four are college graduates with the fifth working toward a degree.

 

"These kids are our future," Jones said of the students he works with today. He focuses his time working with students struggling academically or with behavior issues.

 

Jones, who is in his third year volunteering for Milwaukee Public Schools, also talks to students about interpersonal skills, including the importance of having a good handshake, making eye contact with people you meet and having a polite demeanor.

 

Jolley appreciates Jones' willingness and enthusiasm in working with students. Jones also mentors students in West Bend.

 

"I see Mr. Jones as a sincere person in the volunteer role," Jolley said. He said Jones often asks him, "what would you like for me to help you with?"

 

Jones organized for students a visit with active military personnel and those who work in military organizations.  They had lunch and discussed military life and careers.

 

He also arranged for students to visit Milwaukee's Army Reserve base, where they met with reservists, examined military vehicles and toured the facility. He said the activity was meant to broaden students' horizons.

 

A Milwaukee native who now resides in Brown Deer, Jones graduated from Washington High School, and joined the military at age 19. The military taught him discipline, a useful life skill, something he wants to pass along to kids.

 
UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Help our libraries thrive!
We're looking for volunteers to serve as library assistants.

Serve as a Library Assistant and share your love of reading with MPS students!  Volunteers serving in this capacity may read to small groups of children, check in new library books and orders, check out books to students, scan and sort books, and more library-related tasks!  A passion for reading is required!  Sign up and we will pair you up with a school library that is convenient for you and is eager to have your help!

 
STEM professionals and enthusiasts needed at the STEM Fair
A student tries a computer simulation.

STEM professionals and STEM enthusiasts are invited to help out at the district-wide STEM Fair on April 23, formerly the District Science Fair.  Serve as a judge and chat with students about their projects or help with the behind the scenes work to make the day run smoothly.  Last year's judges got to check out a hover craft, squishy eggs, and cell phone-charging produce!  The event is held at the Milwaukee County Zoo.  Sign up by April 1! 

 
Summer Academy Tutors - sign up now!
Volunteer tutors sought for Summer Academies.

Dreaming of summer?  Make tutoring in literacy or math at one of our Summer Academies part of your plans!  Summer Academies are in session Monday through Thursday, 7:30-11:30 a.m., June 29 through July 30 at about 30 different locations and have students K4-5th grades.  Make a schedule that works for you!  This is a great way to get a taste for being in a classroom while helping to prevent the summer slide! 

 

Know a high school student who is looking to stay active this summer?  We would love to have your high schooler participate as a Summer Academy Tutor! Sign up online to get started!

 

 
VOLUNTEER SHOUT-OUTS
Volunteers at Junior Achievement's Biz Town.
A group of friends spent a day at Junior Achievement with fifth graders from Allen-Field Elementary School, experiencing the basics of economics in Biz Town.  Volunteers at Biz Town, head up one of the "stores" in the model city.  Students work with their teacher in the weeks leading up to the outing to discover the basics of personal finance and how businesses function.  It's an exhausting day, but volunteers walk away feeling great about their contributions.

A volunteer from Marquette University pitches in at the flu clinic.
MPS employees and students were invited to attend one of our flu clinics to receive a free flu shot.  We had some great volunteers help by welcoming and orienting attendees, including Sara Sheeran, a student at Marquette University. 
New Threads Volunteers at the warehouse.
Volunteers helped process the donated items at the New Threads warehouse.

We had great volunteers turn out to help with the processing of more than 6,000 sweaters, sweatshirts, fleeces and long-sleeved shirts from Harley-Davidson this winter.  Items were distributed to students at 11 MPS high schools and 10 of our partnership high schools.  Big thanks to employees at Koss Corporation and James Place at Washington High School for sending wonderful teams to lend a hand to the project!


 

  Heather Aschoff
 Volunteer Coordinator
 414.773.9823
  [email protected]
 
 Thanks for your interest in volunteering with MPS!