Volunteering

Serve and Inspire with Somerville Public Schools!

Welcome to Somerville Public Schools and thank you for your interest in volunteering! Why Volunteer? Volunteers in schools leads to greater student achievement and self-confidence, better attendance, improved conversation skills and social relationships, and stronger community connections. As a volunteer with Somerville Public Schools, you will work with students, educators, parents and guardians, and community volunteers to enrich and expand student learning. Whether you have an hour a week or an hour a month, we'll work to match you with a rewarding volunteer experience.

Getting Started

NEW TO SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS? If able to serve regularly (at least one hour a week), please take a moment to self-register here and sign up for a Volunteer Orientation.

RETURN VOLUNTEERS: Thank you for sharing your time and talents in our schools! All volunteers should submit a CORI for the current school year and provide proof of full vaccination for COVID-19. SPS Parents/Guardians: CORIs may be submitted in person at your school's main office during school hours or via jcapuano@k12.somerville.ma.us by appointment. For information about MA CORI regulation and your CORI rights visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/cori-booklet/download.

Volunteers serving regularly should be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and follow district's current COVID-19 Safety Protocols. Acceptable proof of vaccination include: CDC vaccination card, photo of CDC vaccination card, or state vaccination record or digital vaccine passport (this varies by state). Community health measures continue to be monitored for evaluating screening, masking and social distancing protocols in schools. Please review the COVID-19 Daily Healthy Checklist before serving.

Thank you for reviewing this Guide for procedures and best practices for serving with Somerville Public Schools.

SERVE, LEARN, INSPIRE

Come learn with us! SPS actively works to empower and engage volunteers to connect with a school community in meaningful, rewarding ways. Reach out to SPS Volunteer Coordinator JCapuano@k12.somerville.ma.us to be matched with an educator, program, classroom, student or to learn more.

Multilingual Multicultural Learning Work with multilingual learners in a classroom or for 1:1 or small group conversation, activities, literacy support or academic tutoring. Grades Pre-K through Grade 12. Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole fluency or proficiency and multicultural competency and experience preferred.

Somerville High School
Volunteers work with students individually or in classrooms, assisting with deepening students' understanding and performance in Mathematics, Sciences (including Computer Science and Environmental Science), Languages, Writing; Study and Organizational skills-building; College prep mentoring. Most opportunities require at least a once weekly commitment during school hours or after school until 4pm.

SEEK Program, Kennedy School (Socio-Emotional Education at the Kennedy) serves Grades K-6 students who exhibit emotional and behavioral concerns that impede their ability to access the curriculum. Volunteers with an interest in or experienc with Special Education are supported by staff and work individually with students, assisting with reading, writing and/or mathematics interventions. M-F 8:30am-9:50am; 10:35am-11:15am; or 12:35pm-2:00pm with a once weekly, consistent schedule required.

After School Homework, Tutoring, Enrichment Clubs
SPS offers a wide array of after school programming in elementary schools and high school. Volunteers can support STEAM activities, Music Mentoring, Homework Help, 1:1 and small group Tutoring, Arts, Athletics and more. A sampling is below. Pick your passion and let us know how you'd like to engage!

Homework Help/Tutoring 3pm-4pm (Grades 3-5) and 4pm-5pm (Grade 2), any day M-F. Clubs/activities from 3pm-5pm. Argenziano, Brown, East Somerville, West Somerville, Winter Hill and Healey Schools.
Language Builders Program Academics and hands-on activities, Grades 1-2, 2:45pm-3:45pm. East Somerville Community School. Spanish or Portuguese language fluency preferred, not required.
Soccer Without Borders After School Program working with middle grades English learners. Volunteers work with students 4pm-5pm for homework help and during small group instruction. Winter Hill Community Innovation School. Starting up again January 23, 2023!

Enroot partners with Somerville High School offering mentoring, college and career planning and English language practice and activities for immigrant students. Enroot is currently accepting mentor applications for Fall 2022. As a volunteer mentor you will work with Enroot staff to assist students develop goals and build meaningful connections with their community. Commitment is one hour a week, October 2022 through June 2023 (Tues or Thurs evenings). Volunteer mentors who speak one (or more!) of the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Bengali or Amharic are especially welcomed. For more information contact Vania Loredo, Enroot Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement: vloredo@enrooteducation.org or see application here.

Engineers, Computer Programmers, STEM, Artists Somerville High School offers several Robotics, Computer Sciences and Intro to Hardware Engineering classes. Volunteers with mechanical or electrical engineering or computer programming experience/skills welcomed to assist during classes. Volunteers with crafting/sewing experience also sought for light-up engineering projects. Contact STEAM and Computer Science Teacher and Lead SHS Robotics Team Mentor Laura Peters LPeters@k12.somerville.ma.us.

SHS FIRST Robotics Team is led be enthusiastic students, adult mentor volunteers, student alums and SHS staff. Volunteers with mechanical or electrical engineering, computer programming, business or project management experience welcomed. Time commitment is one or two afternoons/week (Thursdays 2:45pm-4:45pm) Sept-January, with larger need during competition season January-March 2023. BIPOC volunteers and volunteers with Portuguese or Spanish language fluency especially welcomed. Contact Lead SHS Robotics Team Mentor Laura Peters LPeters@k12.somerville.ma.us.

Therapy Dogs (and their Human Handlers) Wanted Since 2012 Somerville Public Schools has welcomed trained, certified therapy dog teams into classrooms, for individual counseling sessions and for staff wellness days. Interacting with therapy dog teams has shown to reduce anxiety, improve confidence and provide emotional and cognitive benefits for students. Certified teams serve once weekly or bi-monthly with the same classroom or student(s) and are provided safe, quiet spaces to meet.

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Community Volunteering

Somerville Senior Tax Work-off Program allows income-eligible Somerville seniors (age 60+) to work off up to $1,500 of their annual tax bill by volunteering for the City, including with Somerville Public Schools. MA minimum wage increases to $15.00/hour in January, 2023. Volunteers who serve 100 hours (~3 hours/week) between April 2023 - October 2023, will work off $1,500 of their annual tax bill. Volunteer hours are pro-rated, any number of hours qualify toward portion of tax bill reduction. Contact Somerville Council on Aging at (617) 625-6600 x2300 to check income eligibility and apply. Somerville Public Schools welcomes seniors to assist in a classroom, read with a student, help organize or distribute basic needs supplies or clothing for families; provide support in arts or music classes, serve as a tutor or mentor, assist with an after school program, help in a school garden, be a recess or lunchtime monitor and lots more. Contact SPS Volunteer Coordinator JCapuano@k12.somerville.ma.us or call SPS Volunteer Program: 617-625-6600 x6023.

The Food Security Coalition’s Come to the Table Meal serves 100+ residents in East Somerville with a hot meal, fresh produce and groceries to take home. The meal is currently grab and go, served out of 149 Broadway (Connexion Church) every 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Volunteers can help prepare meal from 1:30-5:00pm; or help package/serve meals 4:30-7:30pm. Available shifts: Wed April 12, Wed April 26. Interested volunteers can contact Alissa Ebel, City of Somerville's Healthy Communities Coordinator aebel@somervillema.gov.

Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) Liaison team partners with Food For Free to host Free Food Markets at West Somerville Neighborhood, East Somerville and Winter Hill Schools, once monthly on the first Tuesday of each month, any time 11am-5pm. Next Date: Tues, April 4. To volunteer, contact SFLC Family and Community Liaison Lee-Anne King LKing@k12.somerville.ma.us and she'll send you signup link.

Somerville Winter Farmers Market welcomes volunteers Saturdays Nov 5 through April 8, 7:30am-2:30pm. Duties may include: set up/break down of market; welcome guests; translations or interpretation support; booth or vendor support; photography or social media content creating; looking especially for multilingual volunteers. Sign up here to volunteer or contact swfm@artsatthearmory.org.

The Welcome Project The Welcome Project is a local nonprofit working to strengthen the collective power of immigrant youth, adults and families to shape community process, programs and decision-making around schools, programs, government and institutions. Remote, flexible scheduling as your time allows. For more information contact: Winki Chan (She/Her/Hers) winki@welcomeproject.org or call 617-623-6633.

Somerville Homeless Coalition Volunteer at Project SOUP, volunteer to cook a meal, attend or host an event, shop at Amazon Smile and select Somerville Homeless Coalition. See volunteer opportunities here or contact Chris: critter@shcinc.org.

Groundwork Somerville Help grow and maintain hands-on outdoor learning opportunities and promote knowledge of the natural world in public schools. Groundwork Somerville seeks School Gardens Volunteers for garden maintenance and program support. For about an hour a week this Spring, get involved with one of eight Somerville Public School gardens. Reach out to juliana@groundworksomerville.org or visit www.groundworksomerville.org.

MAMAS (Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville) is an entirely volunteer-led resource connecting community needs with community resources. Join a working group, help distribute resources or work toward redistributing resources.

Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) was founded in 1972 with a mission to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries and watershed lands. MyRWA works to protect water quality, restore important habitat, build climate resilience, transform parks and paths, and inspire youth and community to protect and restore. Count Herring online, join river and parks cleanups, help remove aquatic invasives. Volunteer opportunities here.