Lincoln Elementary School

• Elaine LaParle, a long-time community volunteer in Lincoln's reading program, works with struggling readers two days a week for 2-1/2 hours. Her support is greatly appreciated.
  
  
• Hannah Mincin, a former Lincoln student now in the 8th grade, has been volunteering for two years helping first grade students. She comes two days a week for a 30-minute tutor block.
  
  
• Allison Ward, one of last year's AmeriCorps members, has continued her service in reading tutoring this year. She comes one day a week from Bellingham.
  
  
• Seth Harris and Sam Watson are Lincoln's current AmeriCorps members. They are dedicated members of the school's reading program. They coordinate reading efforts with Roots teachers and support afternoon kindergarten students in reading and math. Seth and Sam helped to plan, organize and present at all of Lincoln's literacy events this year, including the March 2 Dr. Seuss and Read Across America celebrations.
  
  
• Jerome Chandler volunteers in Mrs. Humble's first grade class. He also donated a dinosaur mobile, which hangs in the school's cafeteria, and a world map, which is permanently displayed on the west wall by the cafeteria.
  
  
• Dawne Boutwell volunteers in Gracie Johnston's 4th grade class. She works with individual students, small groups, and does clerical work for Gracie.
  
  
• Rita Ordonez volunteers organizing the Lincoln Garden Project, which aligns with the Healthy Schools Project.
  
  
• Kathy Stroosma is a leader in the Walking School Bus program and volunteers in the classroom.
  
  
• Volunteers Kathy Stroosma and Ellen Gray will be teaching Junior Achievement.
  
  
• Grandparent Marsha Christofferson visits Lincoln weekly to prep materials, grade papers, and work with students on practicing skills.
  
  
• Grandparent Barbara Baine works with students on skills.
  
  
• Heather Magnuson corrects spelling papers at home.
  
  
• Jan Curry of the Washington Extension Office presents Food Sense lessons to students in grades 1-4.
  
  
• Tammy Lange volunteers wherever needed at Lincoln.
  
  
• Ruth Grove, parent of employee Janice Eaton, volunteers in the library binding books and doing other projects.
  
  
• Tracy Levine volunteers in Mrs. Lee's third grade class. She preps materials for student projects and works with students on special projects. She assisted Jan curry during our Food Sense Unit. She and her husband, Rick Levine, have taught Junior Achievement in Mrs. Lee's class for two years.

Madison Elementary School
A group of volunteers, primarily PTO board members, have been running a Wednesday after-school enrichment program for the past 1-1/2 years. This program allows students to stay for one hour each week to experience chess, dance, cup stacking, arts and crafts, carnival decorations, and other activities.

Mount Baker Middle School

• Lynn Barber created and led efforts for the MBMS Book Exchange program.  One of the strategies for our reading goal is to create a culture of reading. Barber collected boxes and boxes of books, worked with Louise Edwards to check their appropriateness for middle school readers, and labeled them so.  Students can take a book and keep it as long as they need it, and they are also encouraged to contribute books for the exchange.
  
  
• Dick Knapp is vice president of our Parent Group.  He also serves on our AVID Site Team and our School Improvement Leadership Team.  He has also volunteered to change our reader board on a regular basis.
  
  
• Jennifer Jeffords and Anita Roozen have led our Parent Group as co presidents for the past two years.  They created and manage an email list of well over 100 parents.  They have also started annual events such as pizza for Curriculum Night, wreath sales as a fund raiser, and "Hands Against Bullying, Drugs, and Violence" in conjunction with Sonja Berg our Intervention Specialist.  They have sustained the largest membership and attendance at Parent Group meetings in the six years I have been at MBMS.
  
  
• Carmen Voth has volunteered to accompany our choirs on a regular basis this year.  She is also treasurer of the Parent Group and the Music Boosters.
  
  
• Wendy Ryason has served as the leader of the Music Boosters.  She has been very active in parent group and has led fund raising efforts for the music programs at our school.
  
  
• Eleven parents participate in our Reading Wednesdays Program.  Two Wednesdays a month they supervise classrooms of students for 20 minutes of silent reading.  This allows our Core Content teachers to spend a full hour twice a month meeting in department teams as Professional Learning Communities.  Teachers meet from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m., with staff meeting time dedicated to PLC work on those Wednesdays.  Thanks to these parent volunteers, our students have 20 minutes of uninterrupted silent reading every Wednesday and our teachers have met for 12 hours of interrupted time.  Students have also benefited by seeing parents as role models for reading, and parents have really enjoyed being in classrooms with students!  Parent volunteers include:
  • Cecelia Andress
  • Kathy Brackett
  • Jennifer Jeffords
  • Dick Knapp
  • Becky Love
  • Carolyn Nichols
  • Beth Ross
  • Melissa Schmidt
  • Vicki Semrau
  • Marcia Wilson
  • Allison White

Little Mountain Elementary School
Dan Allen demonstrated noteworthy compassion for a particular student, working consistently with the child several days a week in an effort to reach grade-level learning.

Washington Elementary School
Teacher Dalrae Danilson is enthusiastic about volunteer Don Dykstra:

"Don has made a commitment to these kids. He stated off by questioning why the WASL is so difficult for kids. He was invited to see for himself. He began volunteering two days a week, and now four days a week. His work has been priceless. The kids love him. We love his stores, his insight, his commentaries, and most of all his commitment. He is an invaluable member of our team. We all feel blessed he is part of our classroom and our lives!"