Maine Nordmenn
Maine Nordmenn Sons of Norway Lodge 3-664
265 Middle Rd
Falmouth, ME 04105
ph: 207-761-7994
alt: 207-622-3096
info
Adopt a School
Maine Nordmenn has agreed to adopt the Casco Bay High School in Portland in our Adopt a school program
How can you help?
Survey of Interest
You are invited to help children learn.
Please share your time, skills, or interests with students
through the Adopt A School Program. You need
not be experienced in education, just willing to share
your time and talents to help students develop positive
attitudes toward learning and motivate them to achieve
their potential.
On the form below, please indicate how you are willing
to help. The list provided will give you ideas, but don’t be
limited by the list. Please indicate what you are currently
doing as a volunteer and provide suggestions. Return to
your Sons of Norway lodge Adopt A School coordinator.
Your Name Telephone Area/No.
(Daytime)
(Evening)
Address: Street/City/Zip
Email address
Please indicate your availability for volunteer service. Be specific, e.g., 10 hours weekly, or as needed for special events.
I am willing to help students by
q Working at a School q Working from my Home q Planning/Coordinating an Event q No Preference
I am currently volunteering or having volunteered at the following places (school, library, child care center, etc):
I Prefer to Work with the Students in
q Elementary q Middle School q High School q No Preference
I am interested in doing the following:
q Sewing/Crafts
q Working with One Child
q Mentoring
q Working with a Small Group
q Making Phone Calls
q Making Presentations to a Class
q Sharing Cooking Skills
q Installing/Designing Bulletin Boards
q Working with Simple Carpentry
q Sharing Travel Experiences
q Writing or Researching Grants
q Sharing My Culture
q Making Posters/Banners
q Providing Childcare at Events
q Reading Stories to Children or
Listening to Them Read
q Sharing a Hobby
q Helping with sports
q Working on Publicity
q Helping with Math or Science Skills
q Leading Discussions
q Organizing School Events or
Fund-raisers
q Chaperoning Field Trips, Bus
Trips, or Dances
q Facilitating Service Projects
q Serving on Decision-Making or
Advisory Committees
q Talking About Career
Other ways I could help
My hobbies/skills (e.g., Genealogy, Architecture, Scandinavian Cooking, History, Books, etc.) are
I have access to a
q Computer q Pickup Truck or Van q Sewing Machine q Video Camera
I am currently involved in the following volunteer activities:
Download Survey of interest form:
Go to www.sofn.com
Go to lodge programing
then highlight Adopt a school Program
This will give you a lot of information on the program and you can print out the interest form on page 11.
*You don't need the form to help out just contact Vicky
Benefits and Ideas
The Benefits
Sons of Norway members are a diverse group of people working in or retired from
many different jobs and professions. They are well traveled and well educated.
Through the Adopt A School Program our members will serve as community bridge
builders, to help students expand their learning.
Here are some of the benefits of the Adopt A School Program:
n bringing experience to those who need experience.
n creating mutual understanding through face-to-face dialog and contact.
n promoting school as a learning center for all ages.
n promoting positive adult images to youth.
n bringing lessons of the past and real-life experiences to the classroom.
n offering an understanding of culture and heritage from those who want
to share their interests.
Ideas for Adopt A School Program:
Check with the School. They may have existing programs that fit your lodge.
Tutoring. Members who can commit to tutoring students in need of extra help.
Room Grandparents. This is a concept at the elementary level that goes
beyond just tutoring. The “grandparents” spend time with the students
on a more informal basis than tutoring. They bring a wide variety of
cultural and educational experiences into the classroom.
Mentorships. Volunteers work with talented and gifted students on special
projects.
Computer Laboratory Assistant. Volunteers with computer knowledge and
experience can tutor students.
Folk Fair. This activity allows members to share their crafts, arts, skills, and
music with the students. This is an excellent way to keep alive cultural
and ethnic heritage.
Chairman of this program is :
If you can help in any way please contact:
Herb Hoppe
428-4216
e-mail: hahoppe@yahoo.com
Our Maine Nordmenn Lodge has been interested in the Adopt-A-School program for over two years, but since our Lodge involves members from the entire State, we have had difficulty finding a school in a geographic area, convenient for our volunteers to reach on a regular basis. Fortunately our Lodge members, Devyn & Vicki Packard, are hosting a Norwegian Exchange Student, Anne Cecilie Muri, who is attending Casco Bay High School, along with Devyn, in Portland. She has been a guest at our Lodge meetings and attended our Julefest ‘08. With Vicki Packard’s help, these connections created interest among potential Nordmenn volunteers to investigate Casco Bay High School as an Adopt-A-School project, making a difference in the lives of teenagers in the Portland area. (Devyn and exchange student, Anne - have their pictures in the May 2009 issue of our International Sons of Norway "Viking" magazine.)
Our first volunteer efforts involved help with “ESL” students and with a “Special Math” Class comprised of students from Greater Portland, as well as several immigrants from Africa. Some of these teenagers have limited English language skills and also need to expand on their mathematics skills.
With Dorothy Selleck’s help, we applied for a grant, from the Sons of Norway Foundation “Helping Hands to Children” Fund, to purchase books related to "immigration", including several related to Norwegian immigration. Maine Nordmenn received $70 from the Foundation and we matched that to buy additional books for this program. Upon receiving the Nordmenn donation the CBHS faculty member in charge of their immigration program said, “Wow! This Sons of Norway donation of books is of special significance since Norway as a country places such a high premium on “literacy”.
We feel that creating an interest in Norwegian culture by other mentors from our Lodge will become a long-term project and a welcomed addition to the Expeditionary Learning School. There will be many different ways that we might contribute to our Adopt A School program in the future. If you think you might be interested, please contact our Adopt A School Coordinator, Herb “Olaf” Hoppe at 428-4216, and he will work with you to find a way to become involved.
Maine Nordmenn Sons of Norway Lodge 3-664
265 Middle Rd
Falmouth, ME 04105
ph: 207-761-7994
alt: 207-622-3096
info
