YouthFriends

YouthFriends began in the Greater Kansas City area in 1995 providing a way for adult volunteers to serve as positive role models for students of all ages by spending at least one hour per week as a friend. Volunteers and students choose the time to meet, whether it's during a class period or at lunch break. The activities might include being a lunch buddy, tutor, after-school tutor, mentor, after-school mentor, or a special project. Anyone can be a YouthFriends mentor in Olathe District Schools. There is currently a waiting list of students who want an adult friend and mentor.

Heather Schoonover, YouthFriends coordinator, said adults can meet their young friends one hour per week, team up with another friend and go once a month, e-mentor online, or read to an entire class. High school students who want to be part of YouthFriends Corps can also volunteer to be matched with elementary students who have similar interests.

Training is offered during the school year for adults and high school students who have applied and been accepted into the program. The YouthFriends organization conducts background checks on each applicant. A YouthFriends application is required.

For more information about YouthFriends, please visit www.olatheschools.com/youthfriends and click on community or call (913) 780-7002.

Seniors Serving Schools

"A school volunteer adds love to education"

The idea of having senior adults volunteer their time in the Olathe School District was first discussed in the spring of 1993. The first volunteers of Seniors Serving Schools were retired school teachers. With district administrative support and a handful of volunteers, the program was launched in January of 1993. Since the first day a senior volunteer appeared in a classroom, hundreds of volunteers have given their time and energy to help students of all ages. Other highlights of the program include:

• Volunteers contributed more than 11,600 hours of their time to our schools in 2008-09.
• Approximately 250 senior adults participate in Seniors Serving Schools and the Rotary Reader program.
• A pen pal program called Script Pals pairs senior volunteers with elementary students.
• Living history volunteers make school presentations on history, psychology and their own experiences relating to significant periods of American history.
• Classroom volunteers assist with one-on-one tutoring, storytelling, field trips, and specialty classes including Spanish, music, and woodworking.
• Seniors Serving Schools provided a district activity pass allowing volunteers to attend district events at no charge.
• An advisory board includes district administrators and three coordinators.

Volunteers may contact the Seniors Serving Schools program at (913) 780-7002 in the North Lindenwood Support Center, 315 N. Lindenwood, Olathe, Kan. 66062.

Site Councils

Site Councils began in January 1993 under Kansas law. They provide support, advice, assistance and counsel to individual schools regarding their established School Improvement Plan. Some activities in which the councils may be involved include communicating needs and successes of the school, obtaining input from the staff and community, learning about the needs of the particular building, and learning about the School Improvement Process. Site Council membership is determined at the building level, but may include building administrators, school staff, parents, and community or business members. Please contact your school principal for more information for a schedule of your site council meetings and how you may become involved.