Volunteering

When I was in high school my mom encouraged us to volunteer at a local hospital. We’d go every week and put in the hours and it was a fine experience – something I was glad to do – and to be able to list on my applications, but there wasn’t anything particularly unique or memorable about the experience. For example, my main memory from my days of volunteering was the job of refilling the water jugs in patient rooms… and how my sister would skip the rooms of anyone moaning… who’d have thought she’d end up becoming a nurse?! (My sister would NOT be happy with me for telling this story!) But that was it – no great epiphany or story beyond the fact that I had volunteered.

As you begin applying to college and for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

No need to panic! Your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time – what is important is to get involved!  No matter what year you are, now is a great time to start working on volunteering – the experiences will help you in the long run.

Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, helping at the library, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact Club, REACH club, Project MORE and Wolves for Cubs and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.  Also, if you are trying to volunteer during the school day at WKHS, don't forget that every semester we use office workers to help out in the Counseling Center and that counts as community service too.

I am anxious to hear your community service stories and the ways you are working to make a difference!

Office Workers

Now that the school year is underway and I feel like we are all starting to get into the "typical" routine, I want to make sure you all know about a volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfortable walls of WKHS.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. 

Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  

We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  Please apply soon if you are interested so that we don't miss out on the opportunity to have you involved!

Volunteering

I have been STRUGGLING to get my feet under me this semester and that is obvious in the lack of my blog posts.  I am hoping to get that turned around this week.  Thanks for being patient with me while I was quiet on these posts.

I hope you all enjoyed your (cold) long weekend!  Being that today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day I thought it was a good time to talk about volunteering and the value of giving back to others in our community.

As you begin applying to college and for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

No need to panic! Your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time – what is important is to get involved!  No matter what year you are, now is a great time to start working on volunteering – the experiences will help you in the long run.

Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, helping at the library, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact Club, REACH club, Project MORE and Wolves for Cubs and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.  Also, if you are trying to volunteer during the school day at WKHS, don't forget that every semester we are looking for office workers to help out in the Counseling Center.

I am anxious to hear your community service stories and the ways you are working to make a difference!

Office Workers

We have a great volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfortable walls of WKHS.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  

I have had already had so many moments in the last few days when I wished we had office workers so that I could send a pass for a student to come see me.  So know that this is a service opportunity that is truly valued and appreciated.  Please apply as soon as possible if you are interested so that we can get you involved!

Summer Plans

Summer is a great time to relax and unwind from the hectic schedule of homework, studying and the general day to day expectations of school. But your summer shouldn’t just be wasted away into day after day of doing “nothing.” The summer is a perfect time to explore your passions, investigate your interests and indulge in fun activities that you might not have time for during the regular school year. As we are in these few weeks of school, I wanted to encourage you to start thinking about what you will do this summer to make sure that you have a productive summer and don’t spend the entire break being bored.

So, what are some ideas of how you can spend your summer? Consider taking a class (or two) in summer school. This is especially important if you are behind in credits and not doing well in school. Success rates of summer school completion are very high – in part because you are able to focus on just one subject at a time and you generally have smaller class sizes so the teacher can focus more one-on-one time with each student. If you are planning on taking a class in summer school it is important to sign up as soon as possible to make sure that you will not be closed out of the class of your choice.

Perhaps you are looking for ideas that do not involve more school… Summer vacation is a great time to expand your resume and pursue your passions by volunteering or working a summer job.  If you're still looking for summer job opportunities we have a page on the Counselor website highlighting some organizations who have reached out because they are seeking employees.  And, with regards to volunteering, many students don’t know where to volunteer and the truth is the sky is the limit – anything that interests you has the potential for being a volunteer service project. Get creative in your approach! For ideas about existing needs for volunteers you can visit HandsOn Central Ohio.  

Also, each year the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio sponsors a week long camp called iCanBike that provides differently abled campers a safe, supportive and fun opportunity to learn to ride a two wheeled bicycle.  The camp will be held at Worthington Kilbourne High School from June 19th through June 23rd.  Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and physically able to walk and run alongside the participant as they master the skill of riding a bike.  Volunteers will be partnered with a single camper and you will work together for the week for 75 minutes each day.  There are sessions spread throughout the day to match everyone's schedule availability.  Students who have volunteered for this camp in the past have shared how fun and rewarding this experience had been for them as well as for the campers who were learning to ride their bikes.  Anyone interested in learning more or registering to be a volunteer should go to http://dsaco.net/icanbike/

If you are starting to consider different careers, perhaps you have a family member or friends that would allow you to shadow them for a day or two on the job to see what their particular career is really like as this will help you determine if that career is truly of interest to you.

Current juniors (Soon to be Seniors) – this summer is going to be busy as you prepare for your senior year. Hopefully you are taking the time to visit colleges from your list and getting an idea of what you think about different schools. (Don’t forget to take a picture of you somewhere on campus for me!) You can also begin drafting your college application essays and preparing for the ACT and SAT exams.

Of course, there is always spending quality time reconnecting with your family and friends, going on vacation, reading, and even attending camps or other formal activities which can be a part of the summer for many.  If you are interested in learning about some of the camp opportunities - many of which are offered on college campuses, please be sure to check out the camp opportunities page on the WKHS Counselor website as we continue adding summer enrichment experiences to the site as we receive them.

The bottom line is try to be productive this summer – at the very least it will give you great stories to share next fall when people ask you what you did over the summer.

Office Workers

We have a great volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfortable walls of WKHS.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  

I have had already had so many moments in the last few days when I wished we had office workers so that I could send a pass for a student to come see me.  So know that this is a service opportunity that is truly valued and appreciated.  Please apply as soon as possible if you are interested so that we can get you involved!

Volunteering

Finding opportunities to be of service to others is great for many reasons.  I love watching high school students take on leadership roles.  Being able to share of yourself and your insight and talents makes a positive difference.  Plus, it is never a bad thing for your college applications...

There are 2 great volunteering opportunities that have been promoted at school recently and I want to make sure you realize that these are great chances that you can help contribute by volunteering your time to help others.

1. Link Leaders: every fall, when the freshmen students are coming to WKHS for the first time, it is the responsibility of the Link Leaders to help make that transition easier.  Their tasks often include phone calls of support before the first day, help with tours of the building on freshman schedule pick up day, and tons of fun activities on the freshmen class first day of high school.  If you are interested in signing up, use the QR code on the posters around the school to fill out an application.

2. i Can Bike: The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio hosts this camp each year at WKHS and it is a huge hit for the students who learn to ride a bike and for the high school volunteers who help to make such an impact on the lives of others.  This year the camp will be June 20-24th.  Students must be 15 years old in order to participate.  Here is a link to the page where you can learn more about the camp and sign up to Volunteer.

There are plenty of other volunteer opportunities in the community.  Anywhere that someone is needing support and you have the skills to help, you can make a difference!  I hope you will seek out meaningful opportunities to contribute.

Office Workers

Office workers play a vital role in the smooth operation of the counseling center.  They frequently help us by delivering passes to the students we need to see throughout the day and sometimes they help us with other special projects.  Although it isn't every day, they frequently have time to work on their homework.

The office workers earn community service hours for their volunteer commitment.  Many students feel this is an easy way to earn service hours because it is completed during the school day.

Personally, I love having my students among those serving as office workers because it allows me to get to know them better.  

Many students are not able to commit to volunteering as office workers both semesters and so we are looking for volunteers who are willing to help as office workers this semester.  If you are interested in giving up your academic prep, options or lunch periods to sign up as an office worker, please stop by the counseling center and see me.  It is important to have strong grades in your classes because working as an office worker will require you to give up some of the time that you normally would have been able to dedicate to studying.  I would love to have more of "my" students working as office workers during 2nd semester, so please consider this possibility! 

Volunteer - Do Something

Do Something, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering teens to participate in community service.  Volunteering has many benefits - not only to those who are helped by your acts of service, but also for you as well.  In the past the Do Something organization surveyed admissions officers of top colleges and universities in the United States. The purpose of the Community Service and College Admissions Survey was to understand the importance of community service in the college admissions process. As you can probably guess, the reality is that the admissions officers like to see community service. Here is what they wrote about the top five findings found in the survey.

Passion and Consistency Valued Most
When asked, “Which would you value more: four years volunteering at a local community center or one month helping orphans in Somalia?” 100% surveyed chose four years at a community shelter. This response indicates passion and consistency hold much higher value than a smaller, even more intensive program. This theme is reiterated in the entire study.

Time Spent Worth More than Money Raised
When asked, “Which would you value more: raising $100,000 for the homeless or spending a summer working at a homeless shelter?” 68% surveyed valued time spent over money raised. While raising such funds is admirable and impressive, time spent indicates the universality of volunteerism. Anyone can find a homeless shelter where they can volunteer, but not everyone has the ability to ask for money. Admissions officers “get it.” They are looking for evidence of actual service, not the ability to connect with wealthy people.

Community Service Ranks Fourth Amongst Valued Criteria
When asked to rank GPA, SATs, legacy, reference letters, extra curricular activities, and community service, 37.5% surveyed ranked community service fourth. While GPA and SATs are obviously the most valued criteria, community service ranks higher than then legacy and reference letters. Quite simply, hard academic numbers remain the most standard and significant factors of getting into a top college, but community services are noted and valued experiences.

Organizational Affiliations Don’t Matter
When asked, “Does being a member of a service organization like the Boy Scouts have more or less weight than an unaffiliated student volunteering?” 84% surveyed gave no weight to such affiliations. One admissions officer noted, "Service is service, that’s always a good thing."

Tell Your Story Well
When asked to list the three words admissions officers most like to see when students describe their community service, the most recurring words were “commitment,” “passionate,” and “dedication.” When asked to list the three words admissions officers least like to see, most recurring were “required,” “mandatory,” and “tedious.” Therefore, when describing community service, it should include positive and encouraging descriptors, rather than words of obligation.

So, if you are thinking about the volunteering, I would encourage you to get involved and help make a difference!  It will make a difference in the community and it can even benefit your future college applications.

Volunteering

Volunteering allows you to use your gifts and talents to help someone else.  This not only means that someone else's life is bettered, but research has also shown that we feel better when we are able to help someone else.

As if that was not enough of a reason to try to volunteer, as you begin applying to college and for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

Please don't panic though, your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time.  What is important is to get involved!  Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), organizing campaigns to donate food, books, or clothes to groups that need it, putting together care packages for deployed members of the military, and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact, Wolves for Cubs, Project More, REACH Buddies and Student Council and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.

When you put others before yourself, good things always happen.  Who knows, maybe you will even learn something about yourself as you serve others.

Office Workers

It is funny when people look at their schedules, what one person sees as a negative aspect, another views as a positive.  Over the last few days I heard those differences identified often.  Some students are thrilled to have academic prep 1st period and others prefer it later in the day.  Lunch early or late was another aspect of disagreement.  As people were discussing different aspects of their schedule, the idea of how the students were going to effectively use their "off" periods was emphasized by many.

Several times I found myself mentioning a volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfort of WKHS and I want to make sure all of you know about it too.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  (And Lexi would point out that on those days when you don't have much to do she is always there to hang out with you too.)  

We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  Please apply soon if you are interested so that we don't miss out on the opportunity to have you involved!

Volunteering

Volunteering provides the chance for you to do something to help someone else.  But do you know that often, when you are spending your time and energy helping others, the person who benefits the most is YOU?!

I realize that may sound crazy, but it is true.  There has been a lot of research about the importance of focusing on how you can help others and the ways that it impacts you.  But if you pause and think about it, I am confident you will know it without needing research as evidence.  When you help someone else, you tend to feel good about yourself.  We all want to be needed.  Volunteering allows you to share your gifts and talents with someone who needs it.  This also boosts connection which decreases loneliness and stress levels.  Feeling as if you have a purpose and that your life is bigger than just the world you tend to focus on of your day to day actions is incredibly beneficial and meaningful.

But perhaps you don't even know where to get started.  And the good news is it can be ANYWHERE and doing ANYTHING!

Is there a cause or issue that is important to your heart?  Start there.  Maybe you are a lover of animals or someone in your family has fought against a disease, if so, start looking online or with organizations connected to similar causes to see how you can help.

Is there a future career path that interests you?  That is another good option to consider for volunteering.  If you want to work in medicine or research, volunteer at a hospital.  If you want to study environmental science, look at options volunteering in environmental areas.  If you want to teach, seek camp programs that are in need of teens to help out.

Is there a passion or talent that you love that you could try to share with others?  If you love playing soccer, volunteer as helper with a local youth team.  If you enjoy baseball, volunteer with the Miracle League.  If you are talented at music, volunteer your time to perform at a local nursing home.  If you love to read, see if the library, book store, nursing home, or rec center would allow you to host a story time.

The opportunities are truly endless.  Don't be limited to just the ideas or examples that I mentioned here, think about what would be personally rewarding and fulfilling to you and then figure out how you can help out.  I promise, someone out there will be thrilled to have your assistance!  And, what a great way to spend a portion of your summer!

Volunteering

Have you been donating your time toward community service?  Some students love finding opportunities to serve others and some have great intentions of wanting to help others, but struggle to find options for how they can get involved in meaningful ways.

As you begin applying to college and searching for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

Your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time – what is important is to get involved!  No matter what year you are, now is a great time to start working on volunteering – the experiences will help you in the long run.

Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, helping at the library, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, A Kid Again, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact Club, REACH club, Project MORE and Wolves for Cubs and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.  Also, if you are trying to volunteer during the school day at WKHS, don't forget that every semester we are looking for office workers to help out in the Counseling Center.

I am anxious to hear your community service stories and the ways you are working to make a difference!

Volunteering

Have you been productive this summer? Have you accomplished any of the goals that you had hoped to achieve? I had pretty lofty expectations for some of the things that I had hoped to accomplish this summer and I certainly haven't made it through all of the items on my "to do list," but I continue trying to check items off the list each day. One of the great goals I know that many of you had this summer was to make a difference in the community by volunteering your time, talents, and skills. Have you enjoyed your volunteer experiences so far? If you haven't thought much about volunteering, there is still time to get involved!

Awesome Volunteer Opportunity

I wanted to share with you a great volunteer opportunity for this summer.  The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio sponsors a week long camp called iCanBike that provides differently abled campers a safe, supportive and fun opportunity to learn to ride a two wheeled bicycle.  The camp will be held at Worthington Kilbourne High School from June 4th through June 8th.  

Volunteers must be at least 15 years old and physically able to walk or run alongside the participant as they master the skill of riding a bike.  Volunteers will be partnered with a single camper and you will work together for the week for 75 minutes each day.  There are sessions spread throughout the day to match everyone's schedule availability.  There will be a mandatory training session on Sunday, June 3rd at 5:00pm.  

Students who have volunteered for this camp in the past have shared how fun and rewarding this experience had been for them as well as for the campers who were learning to ride their bikes.  Anyone interested in learning more or registering to be a volunteer should go to http://dsaco.net/event/icanbike/

Volunteering

When I was in high school my mom encouraged us to volunteer at a local hospital. We’d go every week and put in the hours and it was a fine experience – something I was glad to do – and to be able to list on my applications, but there wasn’t anything particularly unique or memorable about the experience. For example, my main memory from my days of volunteering was the job of refilling the water jugs in patient rooms… and how my sister would skip the rooms of anyone moaning… who’d have thought she’d end up becoming a nurse?! (My sister would NOT be happy with me for telling this story!) But that was it – no great epiphany or story beyond the fact that I had volunteered.

As you begin applying to college and for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

No need to panic! Your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time – what is important is to get involved!  No matter what year you are, now is a great time to start working on volunteering – the experiences will help you in the long run.

Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, helping at the library, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact Club, REACH club, Project MORE and Wolves for Cubs and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.  Also, if you are trying to volunteer during the school day at WKHS, don't forget that every semester we are looking for office workers to help out in the Counseling Center.

I am anxious to hear your community service stories and the ways you are working to make a difference!

Office Workers

It is funny when people look at their schedules, what one person sees as a negative aspect, another views as a positive.  Over the last two days I heard that often.  Some students are thrilled to have academic prep 1st period and others prefer it later in the day.  Lunch early or late was another hotly debated topic among a group of students.  As people were discussing different aspects of their schedule, the idea of how the students were going to effectively use their "off" periods was emphasized by many parents.

Several times I found myself mentioning a volunteer opportunity that students can take advantage of during the school day within the comfortable walls of WKHS.  We have office workers volunteer their time to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices. Our office workers each year have been amazing!  They helped run passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else was needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  Please apply as soon as we start back to school if you are interested so that we don't miss out on the opportunity to have you involved!

Office Workers

Office workers play a vital role in the smooth operation of the counseling center.  They frequently help us by delivering passes to the students we need to see throughout the day and sometimes they help us with other special projects.  Although it isn't every day, they frequently have time to work on their homework.

The office workers earn community service hours for their volunteer commitment.  Many students feel this is an easy way to earn service hours because it is completed during the school day.

Personally, I love having my students among those serving as office workers because it allows me to get to know them better.  During the first semester I was fortunate enough to have 1 of my students, Justin English, working as an office worker. 

Many students are not able to continue working as office workers both semesters and so many of the class periods have openings for 1 or 2 office workers.  If you are interested in giving up your academic prep, options or lunch periods to sign up as an office worker, please stop by the counseling center to pick up an application.  It is important to have strong grades in your classes because working as an office worker will require you to give up some of the time that you normally would have been able to dedicate to studying.  I would love to have more of "my" students working as office workers during 2nd semester, so please consider this possibility!

Volunteers make a difference

Did you take the time to investigate the opportunities highlighted at last week's volunteer fair?  I was so thankful that Mrs. Glaros coordinated such a wonderful event to showcase just a few of the opportunities you can pursue as a volunteer as a way to make a difference and give back.  The benefits of volunteering are not only for those whom you help through your efforts, but also in the positive feelings you will have knowing that you had helped someone else.  

As you begin applying to college and for scholarships there are many times that questions come up about what community service experiences you have had. And, even if not asked directly, if you had memorable experiences they can often be used to support your essay responses.

Please don't panic though, your volunteer work doesn’t have to be a huge project or consist of thousands of hours of time.  What is important is to get involved!  Community service opportunities are as different as each individual who decides they want to help make a difference in the world around them. The sky is the limit and I encourage you to find something that inspires you.

Some volunteer ideas that could help get you started could include – community beautification projects (cleaning up parks or areas of the city), helping elderly neighbors, visiting nursing homes to perform music or talk with residents, homeless outreach, packing groceries for a food bank, assisting at the humane society or other animal shelters, wrapping and handing out gifts to those less fortunate, organizing and attending holiday parties for kids or the poor that would usually have nothing to celebrate, serving in a project for those who are disabled or ill (such as Make a Wish, Adventures for Wish Kids, or the Special Olympics), fundraising or recruitment events, becoming the champion for a cause and helping with awareness (Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Donation), organizing campaigns to donate food, books, or clothes to groups that need it, putting together care packages for deployed members of the military, and the list literally goes on and on. Also, don’t forget that there are several co-curricular groups at WKHS that focus on community service such as Interact, Wolves for Cubs, Project More, REACH Buddies and Student Council and you are encouraged to look into those opportunities as well.

My current community service story is that I have been taking Lexi to visit assisted living facilities.  I like it because I am able to take Lexi to new places on the weekend where she can meet other people, but the biggest benefit is that since my grandma moved 5 hours away to be near my mom and I miss her a lot, it is nice to visit with other people in the same way that I hope someone might be visiting my grandmother.  I am anxious to hear your volunteer stories!

Office Workers

Did you know that we use office workers to help out in the counseling/ administrative offices? Each year our office workers have been amazing!  They help deliver passes, update the bulletin board, put together packets or whatever else we needed.  Some days were busier than others and so there were days when they didn't have to do much of anything to help us other than be available.  We do have an application process to be selected as an office worker, but if you are interested, we'd love to have you!  And selfishly, I'd love to have more of "my" students helping as office workers because it is a nice treat to see you each day.  Students with a period of academic prep or options in their schedule would be eligible to apply.  (You would no longer have prep or options if you chose to work in the office.)  You will accumulate community service hours as an office worker.  Applications are available in the front of the counseling center.  No more than 2 students will be selected for each period of the day.  Please apply soon if you are interested so that we don't miss out on the opportunity to have you involved!