[0:01] I want to say happy 50th anniversary to [0:03] our volunteers and partnership program. [0:05] For 50 years, you've been doing a great [0:07] job of bringing in volunteers to support [0:09] our students, our teachers, and our [0:12] staff. Thank [0:17] [Music] [0:19] you. Volunteers and partnership is a [0:22] really special program here in the [0:23] Robbinsdale Area School District. um [0:26] giving community members a chance to [0:28] connect and use whatever skills they [0:31] have to uh be a part of supporting our [0:34] classrooms. Uh it's a very special uh [0:37] opportunity. [0:39] My mother and father have always told me [0:40] that in life you need to be a volunteer [0:42] at something or with someone because [0:44] everyone doesn't have the same [0:46] opportunity. [0:49] one's worth is measured principally by [0:53] how much one cares about the well-being [0:55] of others. And I've always believed that [0:58] I well first of all I think empathy is [1:01] everything. It makes the world go around [1:03] and [1:04] it it is good for the person [1:07] volunteering to get out of themselves. [1:10] In my opinion, [1:12] it's really nice to know that there's [1:14] someone that they can go get help with, [1:15] help from um somebody who can help them [1:19] organize, give some ideas, um kind of [1:23] talk about the field experiences that [1:24] they've had specifically with math and [1:26] science um for AVID. Um, but it's it's [1:30] just nice to have another volunteer in [1:32] that classroom. Um, and to have somebody [1:35] who can make a connection and it really [1:37] just makes a really big impact to have [1:39] another person there who cares about our [1:41] kids. [1:42] when you have volunteers in the [1:44] classroom helping, they are able to help [1:48] the students um with their needs in a [1:52] worksheet or a lesson um pull back with [1:55] a small group or just working with a [1:57] student individually. So, they're really [2:00] hitting those needs that that student [2:01] might need at that time that a teacher [2:03] is not able to get to. [2:07] The stories he's shared with me are more [2:09] of his his journey in high school to [2:12] college and how it's made him today and [2:15] what what his what it's put him in as an [2:18] adult. And with him sharing those [2:20] stories, it makes me realize that what [2:22] I'm doing now can often project what [2:25] I'll be doing in the future and how I [2:26] take care of it now is what's going to [2:28] be happening later on as well. [2:32] they can connect the information that [2:34] I'm teaching to real world experiences [2:37] and that creates buy [2:40] in. He bring he brings out the [2:44] best. When I say the best wherever I'm [2:48] slacking, you know, mentally, he know [2:51] how to bring that comfort zone out of me [2:55] and I can get going and and I love that. [3:00] I think it's particularly satisfying [3:02] knowing that the time I spend with [3:04] someone and the relationship that we [3:06] develop truly makes a difference. And I [3:08] also think that I have a greater [3:10] appreciation and maybe understanding for [3:13] people whose experiences and [3:17] uh life journey may be different than my [3:20] own. [3:22] Having that extra person in the [3:25] classroom that that can maybe work with [3:27] somebody one on- one is just a very very [3:30] special experience for some students. It [3:32] it really does does help um students out [3:35] tremendously. [3:38] When the volunteers can't come in or if [3:41] they are late, the kids are always [3:43] asking for them like when are they [3:44] coming today? When are they coming [3:45] today? So they might not always hear or [3:47] see that they are needed and wanted, but [3:49] the kids really really love having them [3:52] in our building. [3:55] there was an article, a front page [3:56] article I might add, about um corporate [4:00] mentorships and there was a picture of a [4:03] former student of mine and I like to [4:06] think that I maybe had a small role in [4:10] uh in this student's uh course in in in [4:14] life and in academics and in career. [4:18] What I've enjoyed doing is like seeing [4:20] students who want to work with me. You [4:22] know, every now and then a teacher will [4:24] say, "Okay, who wants to work with Mr. [4:26] Jack?" And I'll come in and, you know, a [4:29] whole bunch of hands go up. And that's [4:31] really satisfying to think that you have [4:34] an impression that kids want to want to [4:36] work with you. Putting community [4:38] together is bring [4:41] connection, [4:43] trust when you work hand to hand. When [4:46] you share something or you're helping [4:48] something with [4:51] somebody, this is my community. This is [4:54] where my kids go to school. This is [4:56] where I live. Um, and I have seen good [4:59] teachers, good administrators, and want [5:02] to be part of that. I want to join with [5:03] them in in the effort of of supporting [5:07] students here. [5:09] Volunteering is the highlight of my week [5:12] because when I walk into the classroom [5:14] and a student runs and comes and hugs [5:17] me, it makes me feel valued just as I [5:20] like to make them feel valued when I [5:22] come to the school. [5:25] We need our volunteers not just [5:27] for not just for the work they do in the [5:30] school but [5:31] for what they do to then go out and [5:34] share their stories. And they I mean [5:36] there are number they're are number one [5:41] advocates as we celebrate 50 years of [5:45] volunteers and partnership in our school [5:47] district. I just want to thank everyone [5:49] who's been a part of this throughout [5:50] those years, both as volunteers and [5:53] sustaining it to continue to support our [5:55] schools to make them the best they [5:57] possibly can be. Strong communities and [5:59] strong schools go together, and we can't [6:02] do it without the amazing volunteers who [6:04] help make this happen. Congratulations, [6:06] and thank you for serving Robinsdale [6:08] Area Schools. [6:11] [Music]