The Methacton School District has long enjoyed a tradition of excellence in education and community involvement in their schools. They value volunteering on many levels and believe that school volunteers enhance the educational experience in many ways:
- Helping to ensure that vital programs like music, sports and the arts are available in the school
- Working as the extra hands, ears, and hearts of teachers whose responsibilities extend to many students
- Working to ensure the smooth operation of many school activities, we sometimes take for granted – for example, concessions at sporting events, or equipment management at band competitions
- Listening, caring, and supporting the most important person in any school – the student!
Today, our VolunteerSpotlight shines on Sherry Polidore, Co-President of Arrowhead Home & School Association, Arrowhead Elementary School, Collegeville, PA. Sherry uses VolunteerSpot to organize the Book Fair, Homeroom parties, Grandfriends Day, Spring Fair, Mother/Son Night, and many other events.
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What activities have you organized as a parent volunteer?
So many activities! Over the years, I have served as a co-chairperson for Family Bingo Night, Grandfriends Day, Spiritraiser, Yearbook, Family Fall Festival, Mother/Son Night, and Holiday Shop.
How did you get interested in volunteering?
When my sons started school, I found that volunteering was a great way to get to be a part of their educational and social lives. Both boys seemed to enjoy having me at the school, so that was a plus. I have always liked working with kids, so volunteering was just a lot of fun for me too. I personally have gotten a great deal of gratification out of helping.
What’s one piece of advice you have for parent volunteers out there?
Although sometimes volunteering may seem time consuming or frustrating, stick with it, because the smiles on our kids’ faces make it all worth it. One of the best things that ever happened to me - after arriving home exhausted from an event that had taken months to organize, my 1st grader said to me, “Mommy, I really had fun at Game Night. Thanks for doing it for us.”
Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
One of our moms saw VolunteerSpot mentioned in a magazine, and decided to try it for her event. It worked so well that she shared it with all of our committee heads. We are now using it for everything from homeroom party organizing to very large events. I recently used it for an event to schedule volunteers for both time and donating food. It involved about 60 volunteers. In the past, this event required weeks of phone calls, checking back with people, leaving voice mails and emails. With VolunteerSpot, I spent 40 minutes setting it up on the website. I checked back about an hour after the invitations were sent, and I already had 3 volunteers. I didn’t have to make a single phone call. On the day of the event, I printed out my VolunteerSpot lists, and used them for organization at the event. I could not get over how easy it was this time around.
Anything else you’d like our readers to know about volunteering?
Volunteering is a wonderful way for you to be involved in your kids’ school lives. Not only does volunteering set a great example for your child, but it gives you the chance to make new friends, meet teachers and staff, and get to know your child’s friends.
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To learn more about Arrowhead Elementary School, please visit www.methacton.org.
We salute Sherry and all the other parents helping out at school and making a difference! If you're using VolunteerSpot, write and tell us about what you're doing and give us a chance to shine our Volunteer Spotlight on you!! Just email us at [email protected].