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Announcing the Viking Service Program

The Viking Service Program (VSP) is designed to encourage, identify, honor and recognize community service activites at Northwest Junior High School. All communities rely on volunteers to help with important programs; volunteerism is the grease that keeps the community engine running smoothly. One of our goals is to teach and model community service. This is currently done through one-time events such as the 8th grade Northwest Gives Back Day and the 7th grade Wet and Muddy Wetlands reclamation project. It is also a component of the 8th grade personal development class. The Viking Service Program aims to fill the on-going needs of the Northwest school community in three ways:

1. by identifying and publicizing the needs of our school community
2. by training students to learn the skills necessary for volunteering
3. by recording volunteer time so as to recognize the efforts of individuals--parents, partners and students--who have contributed the most to our school

Students

The VSP program will establish a structure by which students can learn about volunteer opportunities around NW. Such opportunities include both co-and extra-curricular activities, such as performing music, athletics, intramurals and clubs. These opportunities could also fall inside the classroom, such as becoming a teacher's aide or volunteering to assist students with special abilities.

How it works

Students will learn about volunteer needs via the school announcements or the VSP page of the Northwest website. Teachers, parents and staff will then schedule a time to meet with students to train them on the activity that they will be assisting. Sometimes this will require a separate training session, but other times, students will learn by coming to the event just a few minutes early. After completing the event, students will turn in a short form to the office which will serve to verify their volunteer work as well as record the number of hours served. Students will earn Viking Service Points for every hour of their time that they donate to the school outside of the school day. Students who volunteer their services during the school day will earn recognition credit, but not points.

Throughout the school year, students will be recognized at our three spirit assemblies for their work and they will be rewarded with the chance to earn prizes which have been donated by local businesses. All students who have earned VSP points will be eligible to win prizes.

At the final recognition assembly of the year, the total hours worked by students will be tallied. Students volunteering over 50 hours of time to the community will earn the coveted "Golden NW" pin.

Activities

There is no shortage of needs of qualified volunteers. Click here for a partial list of activities that students have volunteered to assist in the past.

Parents

Although the program is aimed at students, parents are also included in the Viking Service Program. At the end of the year, VSP will also recognize at the final awards assembly any parents who have volunteered.

 

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Iowa City Community School District is to ensure all students will become responsible, independent learners capable of making informed decisions in a democratic society as well as in the dynamic global community. This is accomplished by challenging each student with a rigorous and creative curriculum taught by a diverse, professional, caring staff, and enriched through the resources and the efforts of families and the entire community.

Equity Statement

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices.

If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact the Equity Director Ross Wilburn at 509 S. Dubuque Street, 319-688-1000.