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Additional Information

Laura Cramer

District Volunteer Coordinator cramerl@westottawa.net 
(616) 738-5785

2010-11 Summary by Building 

Number of Volunteers 
Glerum - 66
Great Lakes - 146
Harbor Lights - 170
High School - 78
Lakeshore - 214
Lakewood - 240
Macatawa Bay - 33
North Holland - 73
Pine Creek - 66
Sheldon Woods - 70
Waukazoo - 162
Woodside - 369

Number of Hours 
Glerum - 606.75
Great Lakes - 3,740
Harbor Lights - 2808.75
High School - 839
Lakeshore - 4,615
Lakewood - 5,560.25
Macatawa Bay - 325.75
North Holland - 1,109.50
Pine Creek - 1,611
Sheldon Woods - 464.5
Waukazoo - 3,812.25
Woodside - 4,299

Volunteer Impact

Volunteers/Partnerships Make a Difference

The West Ottawa Public Schools volunteer program strives to mobilize and channel the rich human resources of the community into a program of dependable volunteer services. Volunteers are caring individuals who share their time and talents with students and staff. They are people from every walk of life who are interested in young people. Volunteers translate their concern for quality education into action, serving in numerous capacities to assist students and staff, enriching and enhancing the learning process.

Our schools are greatly enhanced through a broad range of activities provided by the involvement of parents, guardians, grandparents, students, community members, businesses, and civic organizations who have become our partners in teaching and learning. Our "partners" staff publishing centers, work with students and computers, coach Odyssey of the Mind (OM) teams, enrich science curricula, help in language programs for non-English speaking children, tutor individual students, conduct Project ChARLIE training, assist in library-media centers, act as room parents, serve as boosters, and help with field trips, fund-raisers and PTA/PTO/PTC activities and assemblies. Hundreds of community members, parents and students are involved yearly on school improvement teams, advisory committees and district task forces. Partners also provide funding to enhance the educational experience of our students through activities, programs, books, and equipment.

The lives of virtually every West Ottawa student and teacher are in some way touched by the helping hand of a community partner. Our district is dedicated to community involvement, a key factor in excellent schools. Volunteers bring to our students the rewards of individual attention, positive role models, curriculum enrichment, and additional motivation to learn. They bring support to teachers and administrators and opportunities to increase their effectiveness and efficiency. Volunteers provide services tax dollars can't buy.

Many Community Partners in Education link our schools and community, providing experiences such as Career Shadowing Day, Excellence in Education Day, Classroom in the Mall, community service-learning opportunities (a 20-hour graduation requirement), Summer Institute externships for teaching staff, resource speakers, and staff training. Partnerships exist with Castex, JCI, Trendway, Brooks Beverage, Westshore Mall, and the Holland City Mission. A volunteer program, Kids Hope USA, was piloted at Pine Creek and Glerum Elementary Schools in 1995, which continues to pair church members with students. Volunteers strengthen school-community relations by increasing the opportunity for communication, learning more about school programs and educational efforts. School-business partnerships also provide outside funding sources.

Each year, more volunteers sign the Volunteer Registers. The documentation of volunteer hours is just one measure of the vast pool of community resources benefiting students.

Through volunteer service, new residents may find an opportunity for establishing community ties and active participation in their child's education. No special skills are required. All concerned, willing people are invited and encouraged to join our team. There is a volunteer coordinator and staff room in every building.