Beach Schools Value and Encourage Involvement from Community During the 2000-2001school year, more than 14,000 volunteers and school partners donated at least 370,000 hours of service to the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Students and staff are the beneficiaries of this service, as they receive additional materials, financial, and, most important, human resources. Volunteers provide extra hands for classroom teachers and office staff by assisting with a long and varied list of tasks that includes answering phones, greeting visitors, assisting in the school's office or clinic, duplicating papers, creating teaching materials, and tutoring/mentoring students. They also serve on school planning councils and system wide task forces, providing valuable input and perspective. This active involvement helps to maintain strong connections between schools and the wider community. The school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA) through its Volunteers in Education (VIE) initiative typically coordinates school volunteer service. The PTA and VIE volunteers are ably assisted by the school's partnership coordinator, a staff member responsible for initiating and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships between their school and the community, based on the school's needs. Collectively, the Virginia Beach City Public School division has established partnerships with more than 1,200 community organizations, businesses, and military commands. In addition to the VIE program, structured avenues for involvement have been organized for senior/retired community members through the school system's Golden Circle program. Seniors who participate in the program not only receive the satisfaction that comes with volunteer service, but they also are eligible - after 40 hours of service - to register for a complimentary Adult Education Class. They also receive a Superintendent's Pass, which permits free admittance to extracurricular school activities such as sporting events and plays. At the opposite end of the age scale are the Junior Volunteers in Education (JVIE) - youth who volunteer to work with younger students. They also assist school staff with meeting individual student needs. Many volunteers serve regularly, almost every day, while others may serve the school at a single event. For more information on opportunities to become involved in public education in Virginia Beach schools, please contact the Office of Community Relations at 427-4641. ###