Volunteer Appreciation

Our previous year at SVCS would not have been possible without our wonderful and dedicated volunteers. Their generosity in giving their time, talents, and materials to the students and the school has been outstanding.

Misty, who came with her children, is a strong advocate for SVCS. She sometimes came to school after staying up all the night before assisting with a birth in her midwife training. Misty has donated items to the school and spent part of a recent Saturday helping out at the SVCS table at the Kids' Book Festival.

Carol has been volunteering at least once a week at school since we began. Carol teaches at the HUU R.E. program and has always been generous and gracious about sharing space with the school. Carol has taught American Indian culture and Spanish classes at SVCS, and has brought in exciting and creative lessons, including an alligator wrestling video and a stuffed alligator for students to wrestle, sugar skulls to decorate for Dios de Muerte, real American Indian powwow clothing and music, and a whole series of very popular lessons on the Chupacabra, a Mexican monster. Carol also produced a promotional video for the school which is on our website.

Jason began coming as volunteer at SVCS at the beginning of this school year, accompanied by his daughter, who will be a student this fall. Jason's baby daughter was born in October with many health needs, meaning many stays at the UVA hospital and other appointments for Jason, lots of sleepless nights and uncertainty. Through it all Jason has continued to volunteer his time when he can at SVCS, always a gentle and gracious presence, despite all the turmoil going on in the lives of his family. Jason built a compost bin for the school and installed our basketball hoop, which had been waiting many months for someone with the skill to put the various pieces from several sets together. I have been humbled by his willingness to give of himself and his time.

Jessica began as a substitute volunteer last year and this school year has come every other Wednesday. She and her daughters always come in smiling and happily play at the school.

Matt and Leigh have been regular and frequent volunteers at school both last year and this one. Matt taught our Tuesday morning science class with activities including building electrical circuits, panning for gold, making silly putty, testing Ph, studying insects and much, much more. Leigh has volunteered many hours at the school and has probably been the recipient of more last minute volunteer calls than any other parent or volunteer. Both Leigh and Matt have always been volunteers who I felt entirely confident could handle any situation at school. Leigh also served on our board of directors this past year. Matt and Leigh have generously given their time and materials to school fundraisers, public events, and to the school.

Jonathan has been involved in SVCS since our very beginnings in the year before the school opened. He served on our board for over two years as treasurer and brought his expertise to the school by handling all our taxes, payroll, and other financial details which I am immensely grateful I do not have to do. Jonathan also has been a regular and beloved volunteer at the school along with his daughter. Jonathan teaches our music class on Wednesdays and has been a strong community advocate for SVCS, helping out with many of our public events.

Kirsten has taken time from her teaching schedule at EMU to volunteer at SVCS once a week all year this year. She has helped students write stories, poems and books, and brought in a recorded Harry Potter Christmas story before winter break. Kirsten participates in a variety of activities with the school, including cleaning the church building, listening to blues music, and learning to play Pokemon.

Donna came to our open house in January and the next month started volunteering once a week. Donna and her daughter cheerfully participate in board games, tag and other play at SVCS. Donna provides a quiet, unruffled presence even in the midst of the most rowdy wresting games and noisy play.

Linda has volunteered her time at SVCS several times this year, including helping to drive on our field trip to Target. She has donated items to the school and supported us in our fundraising.

Alan began volunteering at SVCS this year while completing his Master's of Education at JMU. He seemed to have an innate understanding of the school's philosophy and became a very popular volunteer with the students immediately. Alan brought in exciting activities each week, including a reenactment of a historic battle between the Aztecs and Spaniards, materials to make animal traps, guitar playing, and a field trip to the climbing wall at JMU.

Lenna has been involved with SVCS for a long time and has been an occasional volunteer this year. Lenna gave her time and materials to create our school garden, and we have been watching potato plants and pansies grow, and the students and I have been excitedly harvesting snap peas all last month.

Christian and Annmarie have donated many items to the school, contributed to our fundraisers, and been consistent supporters of SVCS as well. Christian's parents Benedicte and Gene have also supported the school in many ways and attended school events.

Sonya has been an occasional volunteer at school this year with her sons. Sonya has supported the school through our fundraisers and has been a community advocate for the school as well.

Martha has volunteered as a substitute at SVCS this year, including as a substitute for me. Martha has a busy schedule of work, volunteering, and being a grandparent, but has also given her time to the school.

June, despite having children in three different schools, plus a toddler, has volunteered her time at SVCS this year. Since her son began attending in April June has also donated many items to the school and supported our fundraising.

Ben has given his time as a board member, school volunteer, and sounding board for all aspects of the school since before the school began. Ben created our website, business plan, and many advertisements, in addition to enduring weekly sword fights during his Friday afternoons at school. Ben also provides the income that has allowed me to work at SVCS for the past three years. SVCS would not exist without Ben's help and support.

If we had a volunteer of the year award, it would have to go to Tiffani and Amari. Tiffani has volunteered at SVCS twice a week not only this year, but all last year as well, often accompanied by Amari. Tiffani has also responded to many of my substitute volunteer calls, even beyond her regular volunteering. Besides being dedicated volunteers, Tiffani and Amari rearranged the rooms at school to a better configuration, including moving the piano(!), building bookshelves from materials they purchased, cleaning out unused items, and putting together our climbing structure which contains 250 nuts and bolts. Amari and Tiffani have donated many items to the school and ofter served as liaisons between the school and the HUU church, advocating for the school and its needs. Tiffani organized and ran a yard sale to benefit SVCS this spring. Tiffani will be joining our board of directors and working as a staff member one day per week this fall.

Volunteers have been such an important part of our school and enriched our experience in countless ways. There are many, many other acts of support and kindness that I haven't mentioned here, but I'm grateful for each one, including the support of other family members and spouses of volunteers. I'm thankful for your contributions as well. Thank you, one and all.

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