COUGAR COMMUNITY ORIENTATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS We want to thank you in advance for volunteering at Estrella Mountain Elementary School. The teachers, students and staff greatly appreciate the time you are willing to share through your volunteer work here. You will add greatly to the educational experience of our students. Becoming a volunteer in whatever capacity you are able to, is very rewarding!!
If you are interested in Volunteering, Cougar Community Volunteers (CCV) will host a volunteer orientation from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Monday January 9th, 2017 at Estrella Mountain. Call us at 623-327-2820 to reserve a place. Please join us to make a difference!!
Ask your child's teacher about volunteer openings. Extra help is always appreciated in the classroom, on our PTO, and with our Watch D.O.G.S. dads!
Who are we? Cougar Community Volunteers are parents of students, relatives of students, and community members who want to contribute to Estrella Mountain Elementary School’s goal of providing the best possible education for each and every student.How do CCV volunteers make a difference at EMES? Our CCV volunteers:*Help make sure students get onto campus safely in the morning and leave campus safely after school*Assist supervisors during the lunch and recess periods*Assist in the office and the media center*Assist in classrooms by working directly with students or doing jobs that give a teacher more time to plan for and teach studentsHow much time does it take? From 30 minutes to several hours – only one day per week. You choose.Will I get trained? We host Cougar Community Volunteer orientations at regular intervals during the school year. Anyone who volunteers at EMES (even if it’s in their child’s classroom) is required to attend a CCV orientation.How do I get assigned to a volunteer opportunity? You decide where and when you volunteer at school.How do I learn more about Cougar Community Volunteers?Call or email Suzanne Wold at 602-451-4748 / Suzanne@WoldSoldHome.com
GENE VIGLIETTASchool VolunteerOur volunteer focus is on Mr. Gene Viglietta, also known as “Mr. V”. As a volunteer, he keeps an eye on students at lunch and lunch-time recess three days a week. In addition, from his after-school position at the ball fields, he makes sure that students are safe as they leave campus. Mr. V. chose to volunteer at Estrella Mountain Elementary to share, to give back to his community, and to be part of a group that makes a meaningful contribution to the operations of the school. Some of the personal benefits he gets from volunteering at EMES are: seeing more of what goes on at school; getting to know more members of the EMES family; and adding structure to his weekday schedule.Look for Mr. V. in the cafeteria and tell him, “Thanks for supporting the students, teachers and staff of Estrella Mountain Elementary!”
TRACEY CANNY PTO VICE PRESIDENT
It's our very first #VolunteerThursday! And we kick off the new feature with an outstanding volunteer behind the fund raising at our school. She's a military wife and mother of two adorable boys who attend Estrella Mountain Elementary. Tracey Canny, PTO Vice President, says she volunteers because, "My kids inspire me to volunteer my time. We try to instill in them the idea that there is always time to help others and that one person or one group can make a difference. It's not always easy but it's always rewarding. It helps that my whole family supports me!"
MIKE TOERPE WatchDOGS #VolunteerThursday brings us an especially involved dad who spends countless hours at our school. Mike Toerpe is the leader of our WatchDOGS program motivating dads to get involved. We asked him what motivates him to volunteer. Mike says, "I have been a stay-at-home-dad for over 13 years and I love it. I have the benefits of working from home and on the weekends, so I am available to my kids, at any time of the day. I have been volunteering at the different schools we have been to, since my kids were in 1st grade. I am motivated to volunteer at EMES because I want to be involved in my kids lives, as well as be a positive male role model, to other kids at school. I find it very important to know where your kids go everyday, what they are learning, who their friends are as well as just being involved in my community. I am very fortunate to have the free time to give back to my school & community and I like to volunteer in many ways. Dads as volunteers/role models play a huge role in kids lives." Mike volunteers at 5th & 6th grade lunch/recess 2 days a week and is a crossing guard after school, 2 days a week. "I encourage anyone to volunteer at school....your kids will love it and it really makes you feel good too!" THANKS MIKE! Your work is appreciated!
CYNTHIA BABER #VolunterThursday is one of our favorite features and this week we introduce you to Cynthia Baber. "I volunteer because I want our kids to have a good environment to learn and grow. Our teachers and staff our outstanding but what makes our school great is that teachers, staff, students and parents get involved. Everyone can do something to make our school better!" You'll find Cynthia in the lunch room on Fridays during 1st/2nd grade and 3rd/4th grade lunch. She says, "I love to interact with the students. By volunteering I can free up a teacher to do other activities." This mom also volunteers in Mrs. Bryce's 3rd grade class helping where and when she can.