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| Board members John A. Hayden, III, Michael P. Kennedy, Rodger C. Janssen, and Joy Shillman join Board President James Sasiadek, Superintendent Joe A.Hairston and Board Vice President Thomas Grzymski in preparing to hand out awards and gifts |
When Molly Shock and her mother-in-law began volunteering as readers to Halstead Academy kindergarten students, they intended to keep a one-year commitment to the class. But the year became 10 years, and the rewards of volunteering lifted their spirits and enriched their lives.
Along the way, when her husband suddenly died, for a while Ms. Shock and her mother-in-law were too devastated to read to the students. When they returned to their volunteer duties, they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, concern, and support they received from the students.
When the school year ended, they wanted to give the students something more than the books they usually gave as year-end gifts. Ms. Shock took the money she had planned to splurge on a sports car and instead established a scholarship fund for that class of students. She and her mother-in-law felt that as volunteers they had gotten so much more than they had given.
Ms. Shock’s remarks about her experiences resonated with the 122 volunteers honored at an April 20, 2005, ceremony. This ceremony honored those Baltimore County Public Schools volunteers who have contributed 1,000 hours of service or more over the past five years.
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| 1000 Hour Volunteer Kris O’Mailey with Superintendent Joe A. Hairston |
At the event, volunteers received service pins, certificates, and gifts presented by Superintendent Joe A. Hairston, Board President James Sasiadek, Board Vice President Thomas Grzymski, and Board members Michael P. Kennedy, Rodger C. Janssen, Joy Shillman, and John A. Hayden, III, and they heard inspirational remarks from Ms. Shock and Ed Bennett, principal of Ridge Ruxton School.
BCPS Communications Director and Volunteer Coordinator Charles Herndon served as emcee for the event. In his remarks, Mr. Herndon offered some examples of the diverse ways that volunteers contribute to the school system. He noted that:
- Dorothy Lynch of Carney Elementary School is there every Thursday to help office and teaching staff, and assists with registration in the spring and material preparation in the summer.
- Jackie Brewster continues to volunteer at Charlesmont Elementary, even though she no longer has children in the school. Ms. Brewster provides behind the scenes support to the school’s technology staff and works with the school’s attendance and fall and spring reading programs.
- Sharon Keener puts in full days at Essex Elementary, every day, doing everything from lunch count to late slips to classroom work – and has contributed 1,200 hours per year for the last five years.
- Sally Burbank of Westowne Elementary, a former school librarian who has devoted herself to the school’s fifth-grade reading program, has volunteered in southwest area schools since the 1980s.
“As the new coordinator,” Mr. Herndon said, “I’m just beginning to learn about our incredible volunteers across Baltimore County’s schools. This is National Volunteer Week, as many of you know, and the theme for this year is Volunteers Inspire by Example. You are an inspiration, not only to those you serve in our schools but to many others throughout the school system and Baltimore County.”
Congratulations and thank you to all of Baltimore County Public Schools 1000 Volunteers for the 2004-2005 School Year!
| Arbutus Elementary Carney Elementary Charlesmont Elementary Cromwell Valley Elementary Dogwood Elementary Essex Elementary Fullerton Elementary Grange Elementary Halethorpe Elementary Joppa View Elementary Logan Elementary Norwood Elementary Pot Spring Elementary Prettyboy Elementary Riderwood Elementary Seneca Elementary Seven Oaks Elementary Sparks Elementary |
Stoneleigh Elementary Timonium Elementary Victory Villa Elementary Villa Cresta Elementary Westowne Elementary Woodmoor Elementary Deer Park Middle Magnet Golden Ring Middle Dulaney High Eastern Tech Franklin High Lansdowne High Loch Raven High Perry Hall High |
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Story by Diana Spencer, Communications
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