Curley K2 teacher Ms. Cullen during our recent Fall Fling

Below is a lovely piece by parent Dana Willeke on working as a parent volunteer in Ms. Cullen’s K2 classroom.

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It’s Tuesday morning in Mrs. Cullen’s K2 classroom. Students are arriving and checking in. They produce folders from backpacks, practice writing their names by signing-in, place their picture to indicate how they are feeling on a chart, wash hands, eat breakfast, greet friends, tell Mr. G. about something they found on their way to school or animatedly describe to Mrs. Cullen what a sibling did at dinner the night before. It’s late October and they know the routine now, but I am just learning. I am a parent classroom volunteer and today is my first day.

As we rushed out the door this morning, my husband asked “What will you do?” to which I shrugged and answered, “Whatever is needed!”. There are no shortage of jobs in a kindergarten classroom as students transition from breakfast to Circle time. A 15 year veteran BPS teacher, Mrs. Cullen shows me how to cut the corner of the juice box, so as not to drive yourself mad trying to poke the weak straw through the side. She shows me where children strain their uneaten portions of cereal/milk through a sieve so as not to clog the sink drain. She tells me what materials need to be laid out on the work tables while she is leading Circle. Perhaps the most useful instruction comes from watching her interact with students. She is respectful, clear, and kind. This first day I muddle through, learning names and personalities as I go, but I have some successes. A child trusts me to help open a milk carton, tie a shoe, or even spell a word. The time flies by.

Every Curley parent is already “volunteering” whether they realize it or not. Every time they make sure their child has a hat so they can enjoy recess on a cold day, gets their child the sleep they need (not simple, I know!), or donates a box of tissues, they are making the classroom a better place to learn. Those of us fortunate enough to also volunteer our time IN the classroom get to see our work in action. We see how helping to put a straw in a juice box (also not simple!) or picking up raisins off the floor helps children and teachers spend more time learning. We see how making photocopies allows teachers a few precious minutes to plan lessons or work with a student individually. We see how reading a story engages children that might not be ready to jump into other busy activities when they first arrive at school. We also get to meet our children’s classmates and see first hand parts of their curriculum, so that our conversations with them at home are more enriched and we are better able to make connections to the work they are doing at school.

On my way out, I notice that the majority of the class is feeling “Happy” today as indicated by their pictures aligned all in a row by the word “Happy” and I realize that I am too. It will undoubtedly be the most satisfying 90 minutes of my day and I can’t wait to come back next week.

— Dana Willeke
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Thank you to the many parents already able to volunteer in classrooms. We are now especially looking for parents who can support our wonderful specialists in class, helping in science, art, and special needs classrooms to empower even better learning and teaching.

Classroom Volunteer Applications are available in the Family Resource Center (next to the Curley Upper School main office) OR in the Lower School office OR online right HERE. Please return your completed application and Criminal Offense Record Indicator (CORI) form with photo ID to the Family Resource Center.

Feel free to email Classroom Volunteer Liaison Val Snekvik with questions:  val.snekvik@gmail.com.

Thanks again!

–Val Snekvik