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The Lunch/Reading Buddy program is at three sponsored schools in the
Vancouver School District, King, Roosevelt, and Washington Elementary.
The program also provides volunteers for Walnut Grove, Harney, Hough,
Eisenhower, and Image Elementary Schools.
Lunch Buddy volunteers are teamed up with a student of the same sex
and are meet to have lunch with him or her at school once a week.
Reading volunteers have an arranged schedule.
Purpose of Lunch/Reading Buddies
Why are these simple programs valued by the school staff and why should you be the one to help?
- As a Reading Buddy directly and as a Lunch Buddy indirectly you
will be helping students to acquire good reading skills and habits
essential for participation in school after fourth grade
- Bring joy into the life of a child
- Help build their self-esteem
- Stable adult influence
- If you are a corporate group the shared experience is very rewarding
What is expected of volunteers?
Lunch Buddies are expected to have lunch with their assigned
buddy 3 to 4 times a month at the school. Call the school the morning
you expect to go and confirm your child is in attendance. It is a good
idea at that time to ask what is on the menu. You may buy it for $ 2.50
or you may want to take your own. Exactly where you eat lunch and spend
time after lunch varies with each school but the main idea is not to
teach the student academics-it is to have fun with him/her, display
adult behavior and be a good role model. You will usually find that
there is a shy period, especially with boys, and it does require some
persistence. Your initial enthusiasm should carry you past the start
during which there may be little feedback and satisfaction for you.
Reading Buddies will probably not be assigned to just
one student and may end up with several at the same session. Attending
at the same time and place every week fits in with the school system
best but they will work with any blocks of time you can arrange. We
would hope that you could spend one hour a week at the school.
If you travel or are otherwise on an irregular schedule
you may still participate and we welcome your involvement. If you are a
Lunch Buddy then tell your Lunch Buddy where you are going and send a
postcard. If you are a Tutor keep your school coordinator informed.
School Observations about the Program
Marianne Thompson, Principal, Eleanor Roosevelt School
The day before Valentine's Day one year, a little third grade girl
was speaking with me. When I told her the following day was special,
she looked up with a huge grin and asked excitedly, "Is my Lunch Buddy
coming?"
Today's children, faced with life's numerous challenges, cannot
have too many supportive adults in their lives. The Vancouver Rotary
Lunch Buddy program provides our students a priceless asset-a caring
adult who shows up for lunch, shows genuine concern for their
happiness, and shows an interest in their success at school.
Bertha Stuurmans, Principal, Washington School
The Lunch Buddy/Reading Program has been very successful. "Buddy"
student attendance has increased, and I have noticed that the "Buddy"
students will dress better on the days that their Rotary Buddy comes.
Student Views
She likes the same things I do!
Can you believe she played tether ball with me?!
They tell me things about me that make me feel good about myself!
We can talk to them!
You can always trust them!
They must care about us because they don't get paid to be with
Signing up
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? Please email Jennifer Larson
or call 694-8415. Talk to her about school and program preferences. You
will be assigned a school and Rotary coordinator. If you are to be a
Lunch Buddy the school will obtain parental permission then contact you
with his/her name. Whether you are a Lunch Buddy or Reading Buddy you
will be subject to a background check. If your circumstances change and
you cannot give your time in the same way, contact your Rotary
coordinator and he will put you on Inactive status.
Newsletters
Below you will newsletters for the Lunch/Reading Buddy Program. The
newsletters are a great way to keep in touch, read inspiring stories
about other buddies, and get general information on the program.
The newsletters are in Acrobat Reader format (.pdf) and can be downloaded by clicking on the newsletter of your choice below.
If you do not have Acrobat Reader you can download a free version by clicking the icon below.
Picnic
At the end of the school year Rotary hosts a picnic with all the
volunteers, the school staff, the adult and student buddies and the
Rotary Club. Last year it was held at Marine Park and featured a
Magician, who is mostly there for the kids, and a race, with the kids
carrying their principals in a tarp.
Questions?
Questions about the program?
Please email Jennifer Larson or contact 281-8222.
Are you a current volunteer?
If you have questions please contact your Rotary coodinator, the volunteer coordinator at your school, or email Jennifer Larson or call 694-8415.
Attached Files
- June 2003 Lunch-Reading Buddy News
- Rotary Coor Only - LRB Volunteer List
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