R 226
2017 -- S 0852
Enacted 05/04/2017

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

     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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LC002614
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