Birch Grove Volunteers Thanked for "Invaluable" Service

As upbeat music played over the school’s sound system Wednesday, nearly two dozen women strolled through the hallways of Birch Grove Primary School where they were greeted by hundreds of cheering students who lined the walkway.

The women, primarily mothers and grandmothers of Birch Grove students, slapped high-fives and willingly accepted hugs of appreciation from the younger set and their teachers.

The women were a sampling of the numerous Birch Grove volunteers who give their time each year to support the teachers, staff and students of the elementary school, and on Wednesday morning they were honored for their dedication to improving the school community.

“You may not hear it enough during the year, but we do appreciate what you do,” Birch Grove Principal Thomas Swanson said during a brief breakfast held in the school’s cafeteria prior to the volunteer parade.

“We do what we can in school to prepare them, and with your help we are able to take it to the next level,” Swanson said, adding, “We couldn’t be as successful as we are without all of you.”

For many of the women, volunteering at the school, whether it is one day every month or week, or taking classroom work home to prepare for future lessons, is a no brainer.

Being a volunteer gives them a better understanding of what goes on in their child’s classroom, greater awareness of how their child acts in school and helps them prepare to work with their children at home. It also gives them a sense of satisfaction knowing that they are making a direct investment in the future of Tolland’s education system.

“You develop a different perspective on what goes on during the school day,” Samantha Boland, a veteran Birch Grove, volunteer said. “You get to know the inner workings of the school, see things you otherwise wouldn’t as a parent. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do it.”

Fellow volunteers Dawn Norris and Julie Rozman said that the school encourages all levels of volunteerism, from helping to prepare crafts so the teacher can spend more time with the students to working directly with the children on a project.

“Every little bit helps,” Norris said. 

Dottie Shackway, a retired Tolland teacher who spent 35 years in the system, primarily in the first grade classroom, returned to the school as a substitute teacher and also as a volunteer after her grandchildren asked her to come back.

Shackway said even the most seemingly insignificant project is important to a teacher who would rather be focusing on students in a classroom than preparing some of the materials, such as word cards.

“Volunteers are invaluable to a school system,” Shackway said, adding that anyone interested but who feels intimidated by the prospect should contact the school office and visit for a day to become more familiar with the setting and schedule.

Although many of the volunteers spent the bulk of their time assisting teachers in some way with classroom assignments, they also help with yard work, cafeteria and recess duty and secretarial work, Shackway said.

Just how much the school appreciated the volunteers’ efforts was apparent as the volunteers walked the halls. The women were warned that the parade past the students could be emotional; last year, the first for the walk, brought some to tears.

On Wednesday, students shouted, “hip, hip hooray,” waived pom-poms, and hugged some of the volunteers. Banners proclaiming “you’re the best!” and “thank you” hung from the walls and were held by students. Many put out their hands for high-fives. Some called to the volunteers by name to say thanks.

“It’s nice to know that I’ve helped,” Rozman said.