VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

A Student’s Guide to VIA

A CDC Community Service Option

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE LEARNING LABORATORY—

PARTICIPATE IN CDC OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

TODAY!

POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES

Networking

Experience

Recommendations

Professional Contacts

Expand Your Knowledge Base

STUDENT + COMMUNITY =

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N

Career Development Center South Burlington High School

550 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403

Voice: (802) 652-7018 FAX: (802) 652-7371

E-Mail: sbhscdc@sbschools.net Website: https://www.sbschools.net/Domain/80

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

BIG BUDDY PROGRAM

Student matched with child in an elementary/middle school. Students meet with their buddy on a regular basis. Credit can be earned.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Jobs in the community, posted on a regular basis in the CDC .

INTERNSHIP

A program designed for the individual student, in an area of special interest for a specific period of time. Credit earned.

MENTOR PROGRAM

Partnership with adult mentor. Meetings occur twice a month for career or personal support.

SENIOR CHALLENGE

A student-designed project culminating in an oral presentation and research paper. Credit is earned.

SHADOWING

On-site visit with professionals in a career field of interest.

TUTORING

Provide academic tutoring to a peer, middle, or elementary school student(s). Credit can be earned.

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

A program designed to enhance student participation in service learning opportunities.

What is VIA? VIA means “road” in Greek. It is a journey just waiting to happen. VIA exists for students interested in making community service a part of their lives. Thanks to the United Way’s Volunteer Center, SBHS is kept up-to-date on the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available in the greater Burlington area. Whatever your interest, there is a need you can fill.

Why take part in VIA? Perhaps this can best be explained through the observation of Kurt Hahn who feels contemporary youth suffers from the “misery of unimportance.” He notes, “In earlier time young adults were indispensable for the survival of the family unit. Working in the fields and shops beside their elders, they built a life and a nation. Experiences in extended families and cohesive neighborhoods made cooperation an everyday occurrence. The young and the elderly helped one another, and large families offered abundant opportunities to give and receive love.” Those cohesive neighborhoods and extended families living in close proximity, are harder and harder to find. Now cousins are often just photographs in an album and grandparents a three-minute transcontinental call away. Little is asked of young people except to become consumers. Without opportunities to be of value to others, it can be difficult to develop a sense of your own value. For all who come through the CDC-VIA office door, those abundant opportunities to give and receive love are made known. There are many gifts students and community members have to give to each other. Why not consider taking a healthy risk this year, stop in and let your interests be your guide!

What is the level of student commitment? The level of commitment is entirely up to the student. There are one day, as well as on-going weekly opportunities available in abundance. Once a commitment has been made, follow-through is expected.

Prior to Placement • Come in and learn about opportunities that will match your interests. There is

a notebook full of ideas or log onto the United Way website (www.unitedwaycc.org.)

• Fill out a CDC Application and Waiver of Liability Forms. • Assistance is offered in helping students to identify volunteer experiences that

will match their interests.

Prior to Placement (Continued) • Calls of inquiry or visits to a site can be made, to help students identify which

experience seems most enjoyable, challenging, interesting, and/or thought provoking, whatever you are looking for.

• Credit can be obtained if you fulfill a long-term commitment successfully. This includes:

1) Participation in a student driven community service project, 2) Accurate record kept of hours spent in service, 3) A positive evaluation from the agency served. .

Benefits of Community Service • To nurture students non-academic strengths • To reinforce commonly accepted values, such as sense of justice and

compassion for others • Acceptance of the obligations of citizenship • Offers opportunities for career exploration • Builds self confidence through healthy risk taking activities • Meets students need for relevance and a sense of membership in a community.

Personal Growth • Self esteem • Sense of personal worth • Self-understanding • Independence • Personal belief in one’s ability to make a difference • Consciousness of one’s personal values • Openness to new experience • Perseverance in difficult tasks • Exploration of new identity and unfamiliar roles.

William Shakespeare observed, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life, that no one can sincerely help another, without helping his/her self.”

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

South Burlington High School

550 Dorset St

South Burlington, VT 05403

Please Print Clearly

Personal Information

Last Name

First Name

Middle Initial

Street Address

City, State

5 Digit ZIP Code

Graduation Year 2 0 __ __

Date of Birth __ __ / __ __ / __ __ __ __ Age

Contact Information Preferred Method

Home Phone ( -) - Yes / No

Mobile Phone ( -) - Yes / No

School Email Address Yes / No

Alternative Email Ad-dress

Yes / No

Please mark the appropriate days/times of your placement. Insert A or B skinny, if necessary.

Please identify which CDC placements/assignments in which you are enrolled.

Check Box Program Title Course Number Check Box Program Title Course Number

BIG BUDDY PROGRAM 0033 SENIOR CHALLENGE 0035

COALITION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE (CCS) CLUB

SHADOWING

INTERNSHIP 0032 TUTORING 0034

MENTORING VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION (VIA)

0033

Title of Student Position: Name of Agency/Placement: Agency Street Address: Agency Phone Number: ( -) - Placement Supervisor: LAST NAME FIRST NAME

SEE NEXT PAGE

M (B) T (G) W (B) TH (G) F (G or B) Sa S

Before School

Block 1

F.A.C.E.

Block 2

Block 3A

Block 3B

Block 3C

Block 4

After School

Please circle any that apply to your placement

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Semester 1

Semester 2

Year long

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

• I agree to obtain all required signatures prior to my participation in any CDC Program(s).

• I agree to notify the agency if I am unable to attend.

• I also agree to keep a journal/log describing my project.

• I will write an evaluation when my project terminates.

Failure to complete the above mentioned steps may result in loss of program credit.

x x Student Signature Date

x x Parent/Guardian Signature Date x x Placement Supervisor Signature Date x x Guidance Counselor Signature Date

If you have any question or concerns regarding you situation or the program, contact the CDC Coordinator immediately at (802-)652-7018 or the SBHS Guidance Department at (802-)652-7060.

ACTIVITY LOG—Volunteers in Action

DATE TIME COMMENTS

Total Hours:______________ Signature____________________________________________________

More copies are available at the CDC

Your Name_____________________________________________Telephone______________________

Supervisor’s Name:______________________________________ Telephone______________________

Days/Hours/Schedule_______________________________ Location____________________________

* RETURN TO SBHS-CDC DIRECTOR

Volunteers In Action Evaluation Form - Student

Your Name______________________________________Year of Graduation_______________________ Agency Name__________________________________________________________________________ Name/Title of Agency Supervisor___________________________________________________________ Meeting Schedule/Times________________________________________ Location__________________ Date Project Began __________ Ended __________ Total Hours __________

Rating Scale Poor Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 Preparation (Did you prepare ahead of time?) 1 2 3 4 5 Reliability (Did you attend when promised?) 1 2 3 4 5 Attitude (Were you always positive?) 1 2 3 4 5 Flexibility (Were you flexible?) 1 2 3 4 5 Productivity (Did you finish assignments?) 1 2 3 4 5 Aptitude (Did you learn the required skills quickly?) 1 2 3 4 5 Initiative (Did you work with little supervision?) 1 2 3 4 5 Interactions With Others 1 2 3 4 5 Work Habits (Were you professional?) 1 2 3 4 5 Maturity (Did you represent yourself well?) 1 2 3 4 5 Additional Comments: (PLEASE provide one comment regarding your performance) ________________________________________ _____________________ Student’s Signature Date

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO:

South Burlington High School * Career Development Center 550 Dorset Street * South Burlington, VT 05403

Voice: (802) 652-7018 - FAX: (802) 652-7371

E-Mail: sbhscdc@sbschools.net

Volunteers In Action Evaluation Form - Agency

Student’s Name______________________________________Year of Graduation___________________ Agency Name__________________________________________________________________________ Your Name/Title (Agency Supervisor)______________________________________________________ Meeting Schedule/Times________________________________________ Location__________________ Date Project Began __________ Ended __________ Total Hours __________

Rating Scale Poor Excellent 1 2 3 4 5 Preparation (Did the student prepare ahead of time?) 1 2 3 4 5 Reliability (Did the student attend when promised?) 1 2 3 4 5 Attitude (Was the student always positive?) 1 2 3 4 5 Flexibility (Was the student flexible?) 1 2 3 4 5 Productivity (Did the student finish assignments?) 1 2 3 4 5 Aptitude (Did the student learn the skills quickly?) 1 2 3 4 5 Initiative (Did the student work with little supervision?) 1 2 3 4 5 Interactions With Others 1 2 3 4 5 Work Habits (Was the student professional?) 1 2 3 4 5 Maturity (Did the student represent him/herself well?) 1 2 3 4 5 Additional Comments: (PLEASE provide one comment regarding the student’s performance) _______________________________________ _____________________ Agency Supervisor’s Signature Date

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO:

South Burlington High School * Career Development Center

550 Dorset Street * South Burlington, VT 05403

Voice: (802) 652-7018 - FAX: (802) 652-7371 Attn: Nancy LaVarnway E-Mail: nlavarnway@sbschools.net