2017 -- S 0852

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUMBERLAND

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

     Introduced By: Senators Pearson, and Picard

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Fifty years ago, in 1967, Margaret-Ann Gardner, Barbara Chase, Wendy

Leicht, Rose Rockwell, and others brought forward a proposal to allow volunteers to help in the

classroom. The initial response from one school committee member in 1967 was "No Civilians in

our schools." From these humble beginnings the organization now known as the Cumberland

School Volunteers has grown to become today, fifty years later, an integral positive force within

the Cumberland Schools; and

     WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Cumberland School Volunteers has had thousands of

parents assisting teachers in the school classrooms and has had hundreds of board members.

Often, it begins with a parent volunteering at their child's first school, and remaining in the

program until the child graduates from high school in the district. Some also choose to continue

volunteering after their child has finished high school; and

     WHEREAS, The Cumberland School Volunteers run a myriad of programs including

"Reading is Fundamental", which allows elementary school students to pick out free, new books

of their choice, and "Just Friends" an initiative that teaches 4th grade students about peers with

physical and intellectual disabilities. They also have a program that awards high school students

who have done a significant amount of community service work; and

     WHEREAS, For the past fifty years, the Cumberland School Volunteers have made a

positive impact on the lives of countless Cumberland School students, teachers, and parents.

Their volunteers work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children and the dedicated

and devoted service provided by current and past volunteers will be commemorated with a

celebration on May 4th, 2017, in honor of the Cumberland School Volunteers 50th Anniversary;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby joyously celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Cumberland School Volunteers; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Mary Anne Roll, Director, Cumberland

School Volunteers.

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