Hawkins STEMM Academy Partnership

WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

The Epworth-Hawkins Partnership welcomes volunteers throughout the school year. As we plan our programs for 2023-24, we anticipate needing volunteers for the following ongoing activities:

Tutoring: Reading, especially grades K-3, and Math, all grades

Library assistants: assist students in locating books and read to younger students

Book Initiative: help distribute “reader bags” weekly (grades 1 and 2), lead book club discussions with small groups of 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students

Garden Club: meet weekly with students after school to discuss gardening and nutrition           

Participating in one-time or ongoing projects such as Staff Recognition, Teacher Supply Pantry, 8th Grade Recognition 

If you are interested in participating in any of these opportunities or have ideas for new activities, please complete our volunteer application. You can also pick up a printed copy of this form from the Hawkins mailbox at Epworth. Return your completed application to the Hawkins mailbox or email it to [email protected].  

What we do

The Epworth-Hawkins STEMM Academy Partnership has been active since 2015, with approximately 50 volunteers annually. Epworth is a partner in the Community STEMM Connection, a partnership of Metroparks Toledo, Hawkins STEMM Academy, Reynolds Corners Rotary Club, SSOE, the Toledo Zoo, and TPS Aerospace and Natural Science Academy.  Activities of the Epworth-Hawkins Partnership are supported by the Epworth Missions Action Team.

 In the 2022-23 school year,  Epworth-Hawkins Partnership volunteers supported and assisted Hawkins students, staff, and families in a number of ways. ·      

• Tutoring –Epworth tutors worked with students in grades K-8 weekly, in response to teacher requests.  
• Book Initiatives: These programs have the goal of putting books in the hands and homes of Hawkins students with a focus on grades K-5. Kindergarten Family Night, where all kindergarten families are invited to learn about the importance of reading with your child and receive an age-appropriate book, took place in September. 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Book Clubs were held for 6 weeks in the spring.  Reader Bags, in which 1st and 2nd grade students can borrow a bag with 2 age-appropriate books every week, began in October and continued through mid-May.  On Kindergarten Book Day in May Epworth gave each kindergarten student a new hardcover copy of Click Clack Moo,  and a story teller from the Reynolds Corners branch library read to each kindergarten class.. ·      
• Library –Epworth volunteers assisted in staffing of the library two days a week, every other week, assisting the librarian who is at Hawkins one day every other week. ·      
• Garden Club – The Garden Club is supported by a partnership among Toledo GROWs, OSU Lucas County Extension Office, the Toledo Public Schools Natural Science Technology Center, Metroparks Toledo and Epworth.  Epworth volunteers met with students monthly throughout the school year, and help maintain the garden during the summer. 
• Staff Recognition - The goal of staff recognition is to make all the staff feel appreciated and loved and put a smile on their faces. Once a month, we deliver purchased, individually wrapped snacks and notes of appreciation to the Hawkins office. 
• School Supply Pantry - Epworth contributes $1,200 annually to the school supply pantry located at Grace Church that serves teachers from Hawkins, four other elementary schools, and Rogers High School. Epworth volunteers helped staff the pantry one day a month from September through April.
• STEMM Collaboration – The Epworth-Hawkins Partnership is an active participant in the Community STEMM Connection, a collaboration among Metroparks Toledo, Hawkins STEMM Academy, Epworth,  SSOE, the Toledo Zoo, Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo, and Reynolds Corners Rotary Club to foster learning that will promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and inquiry-based learning for the students of Hawkins STEMM Academy.
• 8th Grade Recognition - Our volunteers assisted Hawkins STEMM Academy staff at the 8th Grade Recognition, by providing and serving cake at a reception following the ceremony.
• Science Fair - Epworth volunteers helped to staff the Imagination Station Earth and Science Fair in March.
• Field Day - Our volunteers helped serve lunch to Hawkins students and staff on Field Day in May.

The Epworth-Hawkins Partnership also supports Hawkins STEMM Academy in other ways, including:

• Clothing closet - Epworth provides clothing to the school nurse at Hawkins to be loaned to students in emergency situations.
• Hawkins Hut - Epworh members donate items to be distributed in the Hawkins Hut, which provides rewards for positive student behavior.
• Special Events - Volunteers assist with special events during the school year, as requested by Hawkins staff.

Annual Reports

More information about Epworth volunteers' involvement at Hawkins can be found in our 2022-23 Annual Report. Click here to view the report.

To find out more, click here to read our latest newsletter.