National Volunteer Week

Every day parents, grandparents, co-workers, church members and neighbors give their time on behalf of Springfield’s school children. They open doors and greet kids on their way into the building. They chaperone field trips, help out with Algebra, mentor students, make props for the school play and all kinds of other things that give our buildings their spirit of community.

This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week. Please join me in thanking the hundreds of people who take time out of their own schedules to make our schools a better place.

This week, I’ll be sharing some stories about volunteers and their impact from principals and other staff members at our schools. I would also invite you to contribute stories about the difference volunteers make at your school or tell us about your experience as a volunteer.

To start, here’s Janet Austin, volunteer coordinator at Sunshine Elementary, saying thanks to a very special volunteer at their school.

Sunshine has an OUTSTANDING volunteer named Dixie Sleight! Dixie has been a volunteer at our school for several years and goes above and beyond every time she walks through the door. She is a retired professional with extensive experience working with children in various settings, including hospitals. She has regularly scheduled days that she comes to Sunshine and last month Dixie logged 17 hours with us. She is also a volunteer at the Dickerson Park Zoo, conducting presentations, programs and tours. Ms. Sleight is such a valuable asset to our school in many different ways. She read with individual students and small groups. She provides help to students needing special assistance. She is always willing to assist teachers in any way possible by making copies or performing whatever tasks are needed. She has done so many special things for our school; they are too numerous to include in a short paragraph! We are very fortunate to have Dixie Sleight as a volunteer at our school!

If you or your organization would like to get involved at a neighborhood school, just give us a call at 523-0021.