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Naples School wants to enrich volunteers
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September 15, 2012 |
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Mrs. Cavendar and her 2011 newspaper
class at Naples Elementary. |
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By Mike Weland
The magnet school program at Naples Elementary,
now in its second year, has been delightfully
successful, not only for the students who get to
combine a variety of real-world activities with
their regular curriculum, but for the volunteers
who share with them their experiences and
interests. They're looking, once again, for
volunteers.
If you walk in while the magnet programs (to
learn more,
click here) are underway, you might
be tempted to wonder just what in the world is
going on. It's a cacophony, a blur of sights and
sounds. You'll hear the thump of a bass guitar,
the tinkle of pianos and the strum or clash of
guitar, depending on the musical genre preferred
by the volunteer present that day. There might
be argument going on between a kid who has an
idea and an adult who spent a lifetime involved
in the subject matter who never thought to try
it quite that way.
You'll see kids of all elementary ages (grade
distinction, for the most part, goes out the
window during these sessions, and you'll likely
see first and fifth graders working side by
side) doing science, music and art, from
"Physics with Legos" to juggling.
You'll see dedicated teachers, stretching the
boundaries of all they've ever learned, weaving
the strands of esoteric and arcane disciplines
learned over the course of long years with the
ABCs most of us more commonly associate with
elementary schools.
If you, like I happened into last year (click
here), are one of the grizzled old
volunteers sharing your knowledge and skill, be
it gained through work, hobby or interest,
you're going to see something amazing.
Students genuinely interested in what you have
to say, because, though nascent, they share your
interest, and they're there because they choose
to be. Teachers able to take diverse and often
complex thoughts and ideas and use them to
bolster fundamental concepts ... a far cry from
what many of us remember of that age, of being
force-fed and learning by rote without ever
knowing the why.
Genuine youthful curiosity given wings.
It may not seem to us old timers who volunteer
like what school should be, not at all like what
we remembered, but to see even one student's
"aha!" moment, when they move what they've
learned from the "that was boring," column into
the one labeled, "OH WOW, WAY COOL!" just
because you touched a chord (no pun intended) in
their imagination.
Just because you might not see a connection
between grade school and what you've spent a
lifetime learning and doing, don't think you
can't contribute, won't know what too say or how
to say it, be it once for a class that lasts an
hour or through all ten hour-long class each
Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m., don't be afraid;
they're only kids and there will be a real
teacher there to help you through it!
You might even go away with an "AHA!" moment of
your own, as I did, and remember what it was
that drew you to be where you are all those
years ago.
To take advantage of such a remarkable
opportunity, call the lady who assuaged my fears
last February, made me feel welcome, and dropped
me off in an empty classroom, Mrs. Linda Lee.
I was looking for a way out when Mrs. Cavendar
came in, thanked me for being there and sent me
into a panic by telling me the kids would be
there soon.
There was no way out ... a classroom of kids
came in and .... everything fell into place.
When they started asking questions, I forgot I
was scared.
"It's amazing what a group of dedicated people
can accomplish!" someone said as I walked out,
awed. I didn't hear a din anymore, I heard
songs.
As an inept volunteer, I realized I had learned
as much or more than the kids who bid me
welcome.
You bet, I'm calling Linda Lee at (208) 267-2956
to see if I can help again.
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