Volunteering at NBFA
The mission of New Beginnings Family Academy (NBFA) is to provide students with a meaningful, high quality education through experience-based learning that helps develop essential social, emotional and critical thinking skills. NBFA welcomes volunteers to help further its mission at our Pre-K through 6th grade public charter school. NBFA’s relationship-based, volunteer program pairs adults with individual students, small groups or whole classrooms to strengthen students’ desire and capacity to learn. Through trusting relationships with adult volunteers, students learn important life skills and benefit from individuals’ lived experiences.
NBFA provides a variety of opportunities for volunteers, such as mentoring, connecting with students and assisting in classrooms or on special assignments. Whether you are available once a week, bi-weekly or monthly, NBFA will work with your schedule and partner you with the right student(s) to make a meaningful impact. All volunteers working with students will need to pass a background check before their first assignment. Some volunteer opportunities for you or your company include:
Classroom Opportunities
- Reading aloud to a class and discussing the themes of the book with students.
- Speaking to a class about your career or a specific topic of interest.
- Photo copying, stapling and collating instructional materials for the classroom.
- Timing/counting exercises during annual state physical education class testing sessions.
School-Wide Opportunities
- Joining the NBFA Buddy Reading program, where you will read with a student one-on-one.
- Becoming an NBFA Mentor, to increase a student’s self-esteem and curb negative behaviors.
- Leading and supporting one of NBFA’s student clubs on topics such as visual arts, music and STEM.
- Assisting with the NBFA School Garden, funded by the Whole Kids Foundation, and other outdoor beautification projects.
- Joining an NBFA Lunch Bunch, where you will meet with a small group of students during their lunch break to help build social skills and develop relationships.
- Assisting as a clerk during school book fairs or as an aide during school library hours.
Westport National Bank Branch Manager Bill Hanson connects with students through music.
Parents
There are plenty of opportunities to be involved with your child’s experience at New Beginnings Family Academy. To promote collaboration and engagement at the classroom level, each teacher can select a Classroom Parent. Here are some things you can do as a classroom parent:
- Coordinate parent volunteers for field trips, class parties, and in-class activities
- Communicate important announcements
- Recruit other family members for school events
- Join the NBFA Alliance, our school advisory organization
In addition to being a Classroom Parent, NBFA offers several other opportunities that support your child’s class and school. They include:
- Chaperoning field trips
- Volunteering at book fairs
- Contributing to the NBFA Family Facebook page
- Becoming a Lunchroom Buddy
- Joining the NBFA Board of Directors
- Becoming a Mentor to an NBFA student
Contact your child’s teacher to find out how you can get involved.