06/25/09
Residents recognized for volunteer service to School Department
Five Cape Elizabeth residents were recognized by the School Board this month for their decades long service to the School Department as volunteers in instruction and in extracurricular activity.
"Tonight we are honoring community members who have served 13 years or more," said Gail Schmader, director of volunteer services for the School Department, at the board's meeting June 9. Thirteen is normally considered an unlucky number, said Schmader, but Cape Elizabeth is indeed fortunate and lucky to have such dedicated volunteers.
The School Department's Volunteer Services began in 1992, the same year recognized volunteer Betsy Moir's daughter entered school as a kindergartner.
Receiving certificates of appreciation June 9 were Moir, who has volunteered in the Pond Cove School media center for 17 years; Susan Macvicar, who has worked with fifth- and sixth-grade students on literacy skills for 14 years; Ann Waecker, also a 14-year volunteer with the High School's computer lab and technology programs; and, Alan Lishness, who is finishing 13 seasons as a volunteer with the Middle School debate team. Not present at the meeting but also recognized was Kathy Fabish, a 13-year volunteer at the High School library as well as offering reading support at Pond Cove.
Trish Brigham, School Board chairman, distributed certificates and thanked the longtime volunteers. "What you do is invaluable," Brigham said. "Thank you very much, you have really made an impact," she said.
In her annual report to the board, Schmader said more than 925 volunteers supported supported Cape Elizabeth students academically, socially and emotionally this school year, providing approximately 20,000 hours of service valued at $273,000. In addition, community members donated items ranging from used tennis balls to refrigerators, with total donations valued at more than $14,000 for 2008-09.
Volunteerism and donations were down some compared to last year and previous years, Schmader said, due to the economy. "Some volunteers returned to the workforce," she told members of the board. However, the number of grandparents volunteering increased significantly, she said.
The volunteer statistics do not include efforts of the parent associations, Schmader said.
In addition, High School student mentors helped younger students again this year, with a new focus on academic support. Many of the 37 mentors met with younger students to reinforce math and literary skills.
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