Reading Pals VolunteerAt — Vista Unified School District
Vista Unified School District is building a volunteer program to support literacy in partnership with Reading Pals, which is a non-profit organization that has been doing this for fifteen years in Chico with tremendous success. We are the first school district in Southern California to build this partnership with Reading Pals. By becoming a Reading Pal, you will be paired one-on-one with students in the afterschool program to help them grow stronger as a reader, which will in turn help them be stronger academically. Helping children become confident readers is the most powerful investment you can make toward their success, community resilience, and ending cycles of poverty and incarceration. Join us in rewriting stories through the power of reading. For more information, please see our Reading Pals Website and the following volunteer recruitment presentation.
Expected Hours per Week:
- This program will be offered after school (2:35-4:35 p.m.) at the following schools: Bobier Elementary School, Breezehill Elementary School, Foothill Oak Elementary School, Grapevine Elementary School, Hannalei Elementary School, Maryland Elementary School, Monte Vista Elementary School, and T.H.E. Leadership Academy.
- Reading Pals are asked to volunteer one to two hours per week between 2:35-4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (depending on the school site).
- The district will accept school year volunteers (September/October through May) or semester volunteers (September/October through December or January through May). If you have specific hour requirements for a course, a school site you prefer, or days you need, please let us know so we can accommodate your needs
Reading Pals will learn to communicate effectively with students in grades second through fifth to help them build their literacy and language skills.
Reading Pals will learn to develop positive rapport with children to build meaningful relationships and show each child they are valued, seen, and heard.
Reading Pals will learn to build trust with children so they can be vulnerable by reading with their Reading Pal and persevering when reading feels difficult.
Reading Pals must attend mandatory training prior to volunteering. The training is one hour and will be offered in person at the Vista Innovation Center (836 Olive Ave, Vista, CA 92083) on various dates. Please check the interest form link for upcoming training dates.
Main Contact:
Kristin Childs is the district coordinator for Reading Pals. All paperwork must be submitted electronically, via mail, or in person at Monte Vista Elementary School (1720 Monte Vista Dr.Vista, CA 92084). If you have any questions, please reach out to Kristin Childs (760-726-0410 ext. 57412 or kristinchilds@vistausd.org).
Semester Volunteers (LESS THAN 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year) must complete the following requirements:
- Complete interest form.
- Complete VUSD volunteer requirements.
- Volunteer application, copy of the front and back of your driver’s license, government issued ID, or student ID, and Tuberculosis screening questionnaire.
- Volunteers who will NOT meet or exceed 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must still complete mandated reporter training. You will be provided with the necessary links once you have completed the other requirements. (Fingerprinting will NOT be required.)
- Check in to the office with an I.D., sign in/out every time, and wear Reading Pal’s badge at all times on campus.
School Year Volunteers (16 hours per month or 32 hours per year) must complete the following requirements:
- Complete interest form.
- Complete VUSD volunteer requirements.
- Volunteer application, copy of the front and back of your driver’s license, government issued ID, or student ID, and Tuberculosis screening questionnaire.
- Volunteers who will meet or exceed 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must complete a background check/fingerprinting and mandated reporter training. You will be provided with the necessary paperwork and links once you have completed the other requirements.
- Check in to the office with an I.D., sign in/out every time, and wear Reading Pal’s badge at all times on campus.