Return to Headlines

We appreciate our volunteers!

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month in the Bremerton School District!  We'd like to introduce you to some of our amazing volunteers!

 

Alistair  Alistair James 

Alistair James is the parent of a first grade student at West Hills STEM Academy. 

Every morning Alistair enjoys spending the first hour of the school day in Dawn Hensley’s first grade classroom.   

Each day, Alistair comes up with a word or letter to challenge the students to use that day - an activity that is helpful in getting the students settled in and ready to begin a day of learning.  When Alistair was asked why they volunteer in their child’s classroom, the response was: “Child enrichment!”  It is as simple as that to Alistair! 

Fun fact about Alistair: Alistair loves letters and fun words.  Their family is a family of readers and writers and they enjoy having the ability to use this in a volunteer setting with the peers of their daughter.

 

BBB group pic  Bremerton Backpack Brigade


The Bremerton Backpack Brigade (BBB) provides weekend food support for students of approximately 150 families (between 350-400 children) in all of our elementary schools - including West Hills STEM Academy.

Each week dedicated BBB volunteers, led by Myra Battin & Sherrill Gross, work to stock the shelves and fill backpacks with weekend meals that students will take home on Fridays. During school breaks, the families are provided with boxes with a week’s worth of food instead of backpacks.  For spring break earlier this month, BBB distributed about 180 boxes of food to help families get through spring break with full bellies! 

BBB relies on cash and in-kind donations, and is always looking for new volunteers.  If you’re interested in volunteering, hosting a food drive, or donating, please visit Bremerton Backpack Brigade. 

Here are a few fun facts about the Bremerton Backpack Brigade:

  • Fresh fruit and veggies go home weekly in the backpacks to ensure kids are getting vital vitamins and minerals. BBB spends about $700 each week to fill backpacks with these healthy, nutrient dense food options.

  • Each month the Bremerton Backpack Brigade sends home $25 protein vouchers that can be used at local Bremerton stores to help purchase proteins that can't be sent home in backpacks like meat, eggs and cheese.

  • Canned foods are an easy way to ensure kids are getting proteins and veggies in their weekly backpacks. BBB tries to send home two different canned proteins (beans, chili, canned chicken, tuna, spam) as well as a can of vegetables every week.

A special thank you:  Co-founders Myra Battin & Ann Horn will be retiring from the Brigade at the end of this school year.  Thank you both for your many years of dedication to the students of the Bremerton School District.