The Alpine and Provo school districts need senior volunteers to tutor elementary, secondary and senior high school students in basic subjects.
"There are no qualifications for these jobs except that the volunteers are over 60 years old, healthy, and willing to do it," said Gen Whiting, recruiter for the Provo School District.Scera Park Elementary School in Orem and Forbes Elementary School in American Fork both need volunteers to assist students in resource programs who are having difficulty reading.
"Without the volunteers, it's difficult for the teacher to give each of the youths personal attention. If someone else is there to assist the teacher, the students get the extra one-on-one attention they need," said Sharon Smith, recruiter for the Alpine School District.
Scera Park also needs someone to help update the childrens' records for four hours a week. The schedule is flexible.
Four teachers from Joaquin Elementary School in Provo need volunteers to tutor groups of kindergarten students in reading and math. Joaquin teachers have also requested individuals with artistic, business, or math skills to tutor fifth-graders.
The Joaquin Elementary librarian needs assistance processing books and filing.
Oakridge School in Provo, which serves children with disabilities, needs a senior male volunteer to accompany a mentally handicapped boy during the lunch hour.
One male and one famle volunteer are needed to be present in the swimming pool locker room during gym time.
Seniors who have skills in a certain area and would like to teach those skills to elementary, secondary or high school students, are also encouraged to volunteer.
"We are happy to find ways to incorporate our volunteers' special skills into the schools. We have a volunteer who loves sciences, so he tutors students in science. We had a volunteer in the homemaking department, and a volunteer for at least one hour a week.
"However, they can put in just about as much time as they want. They have such a great influence on the students, we'll take as much help as we can get." Whiting said.
For more information on becoming a tutor with the Provo or Alpine School Districts, call the United Way Volunteer Center at 374-8108. Other community volunteer opportunities:
- The Youth Observation and Assessment Center needs enthusiastic volunteers to accompany troubled youth on activities and help with school programs. Volunteers should be available one day each week for eight hours.
- Volunteers are needed to make daily calls to elderly homebound individuals. Telecare volunteers are asked to commit to one, one-hour shift each week between 9 and 10 a.m. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have their own transportation.
- Individuals with experience in cataloging are needed to help organize the new library at the Utah State Developmental Center. Hours are flexible.
For more information on these and other community volunteer opportunities, call the United Way Volunteer Center at 374-8108.