PHS Volunteers Make a Difference!

Disclaimer: I "borrowed" this one, too, from Kate and her excellent newsletter skills.

Since opening the school in September 2007, the staff at Peace House Secondary School have welcomed a number of volunteers working in a variety of ways to help fulfill the mission of PHF.
Working closely with PHS’s new volunteer coordinator, Gina Goodgame, these volunteers have shared their many talents and skills with the students and staff.

Dr. John Ahlenius was on campus January and February as an educational volunteer. A former teacher and principal from Colorado, John has been working with PHS teachers on curriculum development and teaching skills. Being a jack of all trades, John has also welded volleyball standards, made a bell to announce the beginning and end of class periods, and built temporary sidewalks to decrease the amount of mud on campus. We are already looking forward to his return!

Also in early 2008, PHF board member, Dana House and his wife Cindy, spent two weeks volunteering with PHS students. Dana and Cindy introduced the kids to puzzles, and helped with
homework and English skills. January proved to be a busy month with visits from three nursing students and a pediatrician from Minnesota. Gustavus Adolphus nursing students Lauren
Hansen, Sarah Frodl and Grace Bury spent a week on campus helping to set up medical records for every student. They took height and weight measurements, checked vision, blood pressure and administered other basic screening tests. They set up a filing system with the results plus basic medical/family history on each student. With these new medical records, PHS will be able to record the progress of each students’ health and growth. While Minnesota pediatrician Dr. Tom LeFevere examined some students with medical concerns, his wife, Jeanne, and sons, Chris and Dave, corrected tests and played games with the students.

Currently, there are 4 college students on campus at PHS for an extended stay. Katie Engelmann is spending many hours unpacking books to get the library at PHS (soon to be named the Kirchner Learning Center) up and running. She is stamping, labeling each book and creating a computerized inventory. One day soon, thanks to Katie’s hard work, the PHS library will be a great asset to the students. Adam Kroczek is also helping with the set-up of the library as well as doing maintenance work outside with college students Andrew Boone and Zach Hughes.
These three young men are laying stone paths, planting trees, and assisting the grounds team with other varying projects.

Retired elementary school teacher and administrator Brad Board spent three weeks assisting
with teacher training. Brad was a long-time administrator in Minnetonka, Minnesota and has continued his service work in his new home in the Seattle area.

Project 640 just returned for a week of hard work and fun. They played lots of games and sports with the students and also worked on constructing a sand volleyball court that will definitely get lots and lots of use!

Thank you to these volunteers and the many who have come before them for their selfless efforts, all of which are making PHS a success!