The Volunteer Program at BHSEC Queens

The Volunteer Program at BHSEC Queens

The Volunteer Program at BHSEC Queens provides motivated students with opportunities to utilize their talents and skills to serve others.  The program takes place on the campus of our early college and consists of peer mentoring, peer tutoring, library internship and a wide variety of opportunities to support the school, local, and global community.

The program’s mission is to encourage students to develop a sense of civic responsibility by becoming caring and engaged school citizens.  Volunteers gain personal satisfaction, have a positive impact on their community, and enhance their educational experience.

Students further develop leadership and interpersonal skills that translate to future benefits for them personally and socially.  The program’s mission is shaped by Bard College’s understanding of effective leadership as “never solely synonymous with power,” but rather an ability to “(pay) close attention to particular circumstances, people, personalities, body language, and histories.”  In keeping with this philosophy, volunteers learn to develop attentive and positive interactions with the students they are helping individually and with the academic and local community as a whole.

Volunteers are guided in mentoring, tutoring, library and administrative skills through training provided by faculty.  Tutors and mentors are instructed in how to build supportive relationships with their fellow students and how to provide assistance with academic assignments.

 

Peer Mentor Program

Peer Mentors are our Year I and Year II college students who are matched with students in need of academic support.  Mentors assist these students to succeed in the early college program by offering encouragement, friendship and academic guidance.  They provide mentees with general information about BHSEC Queens and assist with select college building skills, such as time management and organization skills, and faculty-student communication. The goal of the Peer Mentor Program is to give students in need of academic support an opportunity to meet and form relationships with students who are knowledgeable about the early college experience.  Mentors meet with Learning Commons staff to receive training in mentoring practices.

 

Peer Tutoring Program

Peer Tutors and Peer Writing Tutors are BHSEC Queens students who assist students in content areas and writing skills.  Students meet with a tutor weekly in the library for one-on-one assistance with homework assignments and for help with developing good study habits. The goal of the Peer Tutoring Program is to connect students to a classmate who understands the challenges of early college, and who is able to help students reach specific academic objectives.  Peer tutoring is an excellent opportunity to assist others while building communication and leadership skills.  All tutors receive training in best tutoring practices and learn tutoring strategies relevant to their disciplines. 

Library Internships

Library Internship: This opportunity is for students 10th grade and up in good academic standing.  Description: Library interns are invited to sit at the front circulation desk, check books in and out, and assist their peers with research questions. They receive ongoing training (as well as two after-school group trainings) in the Dewey Decimal system and library research skills. With the guidance of the librarian, the design a project to improve the library, and create a culture of research and inquiry in the school. Some current and past projects include: writing book reviews to be displayed in the library, or submitted for national publication; creating a list of bilingual books to purchase; drafting a grant proposal to purchase new technology; creating book displays, bulletin boards, or brochures to entice their peers to read. Students gain a wide range of experience in librarian skills, including cataloging and shelving. Students who take this internship seriously and devote 1-2 hours per week on it will become trained in librarian skills that may qualify them for future positions in libraries.   Library Book Reviewer Internship:  This opportunity is for all students in good academic standing.  Description: Book reviewers-in training learn the art and craft of critiquing books, films, and multi-media. They can participate in various ways: 1) by joining a teen opinion panel, 2) by making suggestions for library purchases, 3) writing book reviews. Students will begin by writing short reviews to be posted on the library bulletin board or in the library newsletter, and will receive support in developing their writing skills. Serious writers will be encouraged to write reviews for national publication in the journal VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates). Students who write for VOYA will receive extensive mentoring from the librarian and learn to write publishable reviews.   Adopt a Shelf Internship:  This opportunity is for all students and can be a component of an internship. Description: Students can contribute to the library community by taking care of one shelf throughout the school year (alphabetizing and straightening their shelf). This takes five minutes twice a week.

 

 

The Student Ambassador Program

The Student Ambassador Program offers students an opportunity to give back to BHSEC Queens in a variety of ways. Student Ambassadors serve as school representatives. They meet with visitors at BHSEC Queens to describe their academic and social experiences and offer campus tours.  They participate in information sessions for prospective students and their families. Student Ambassadors help faculty and administrators plan and carry out events held both in and outside the school throughout the year. Students have served as Ambassadors at admission events, High School fairs, parent teacher conferences, arts celebrations, and graduation ceremonies.

 

The Admissions Internship Program

Admissions interns serve as school representatives and liaisons. They provide a vital link between future and current students at BHSEC Queens.  Interns help administrative staff to organize and carry out campus visits for prospective students and their families, ensuring that each guest has an informative and enjoyable visit to our school. Interns assist with various admission events including Assessments, Open Houses, City Wide and Borough Fairs.  Admissions volunteers develop significant communication and oral presentation skills as they learn to represent and describe their academic experiences to visiting families.  

 

The Technology Volunteer Program

The Technology Volunteer Program offers students who are technologically minded a way to contribute their abilities to the school community while improving their skills in the field of Information Technology. Students have a variety of ways to participate based on their interests.  They can donate time to the BHSEC Queens Help Desk, where they assist with the functions and procedures of technological support and learn how to dispatch a Help Desk Ticket. Volunteers with hardware skills can work on various long-term projects such as upgrading old server equipment, or making improvements to the computer lab. All volunteers learn to assist faculty and students with questions concerning computer hardware and software, including printing, word processing, electronic mail and operating systems. Students also receive training in applying computer technology to curriculum and course planning.

 

Making a Difference Locally and Globally

BHSEC Queens promotes and supports student participation in community service efforts outside its campus. Students are involved in and learn from a wide range of volunteer work in New York City and the five boroughs.  They have served as apprentices in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, tutored children through the YMCA’s Beacon Center, worked with elementary school students at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan, cared for puppies at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and helped the elderly with grocery shopping and medical visits at the Carter Burden Center for the Aging.

Our students learn about volunteer opportunities individually, and through a DOE Service Coordinator who provides information about local service efforts and resources available for students seeking to initiate volunteer projects.  Students also make a difference both locally and globally by joining the BHSEC Queens Cares Club, which recently raised funds to contribute to the Japanese Relief Fund through the Red Cross.  

 

Looking for Additional Volunteer Opportunities?

Bard High School Early College is committed to helping students express their ideals and values through service to others.  Besides the opportunities offered at BHSEC Queens, there are many different ways for students to contribute their time and talents.  BHSEC Connect is a useful resource for students who wish to know about additional volunteer paths, service learning programs, and internships in the five boroughs during the semester and throughout the year.

BHSEC Connect is a web portal designed to assist students in locating service opportunities and internships that match their interests and abilities. Students can find programs by selecting a subject category and navigating to a volunteer website; view upcoming application deadlines; and read announcements about new workshops and special service events.  

Our students have participated in many of these community based service activities, which include programs in patient and elderly care; museum apprenticeships; the preservation of city parks, rivers and gardens; the fight against hunger and poverty; the promotion of youth literacy; the creation of safer neighborhoods, and many others.

To learn more, or to subscribe to the BHSEC Connect Blog, go to http://bhsecconnect.edublogs.org