Become a High School Volunteer in the
2014 Bridges Elementary and Middle Grades Summer Institute
What is Bridges?
Bridges is a program for motivated students from Baltimore City. Each year, the program accepts a class of 20 rising fourth
grade students from six Baltimore City Public Schools. Students can stay in the program from fourth grade through their senior
year of high school. Bridges is best known for its elementary and middle school summer institute, but also provides after school
programs, middle and high school guidance, mentoring, tutoring, summer jobs and college preparation.
Tell me more about the Elementary and Middle Grades Summer Institute…
The Bridges Elementary and Middle Grades Summer Institute is held on the campus of St. Paul’s School. For five weeks, it
provides 120+ students in grades four through nine with rich experiences in academics, outdoors, sports, and the arts.
Additionally, each grade takes a weekly field trip and engages in activities related to weekly themes: Outdoor & Environment,
Explore Baltimore, Career, and Community Service. Each summer, there are also a series of program-wide competitions
including Geography Bee, Spelling Bee, Talent Show, Math Bee, and Field Day.
When is the Elementary and Middle Grades Summer Program?
All-program orientation is Saturday, June 21, 2014. The summer session is June 23 – July 25, 2014.
What will I do as a High School Volunteer in the program?
Volunteers assist in the classroom (hands on tutoring, helping teachers facilitate exercises), assist with outdoor activities,
chaperone field trips, help coordinate all-program activities, and serve as role models to Bridges Students.
In order to volunteer, a student must…
(1) Be a student at the Boys or Girls School
(2) Have completed ninth grade by the start of the summer program
(3) Attend one of two volunteer training sessions – May 3 or May 10, 2014
(4) Attend all-program Orientation – June 21, 2014
(5) Commit two or three full weeks to the program; between June 23 – July 25, 2014
***Volunteers may not leave early, arrive midday or attend only part of a week. Substitutes are not permitted.
How many community service hours will I earn? Approximately 45 hours per week.
How do I sign-up?
Pick up an information packet from Mrs. Webster at the Boys’ School or the community service
office at the Girls’ School. Please return your completed application to Mr. Paymer’s mailbox in the Boys Middle School.
When should I hear back? We will contact you regarding the status of your application by January 31, 2014.
Questions? Contact Mr. Paymer at rpaymer@stpaulsschool.org or 410.821.3058
The application deadline is December 7, 2013…
Positions fill quickly though, so sooner is better!
Positions are limited and only approved students will be allowed to participate in the program.
We look forward to hearing from you
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What makes a great volunteer?
Interaction with Students
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Be a positive role model. Your students will look up to you. Your behavior helps set the tone of the program.
Be involved and interact with students. Eat lunch and participate in recess and other activities with students.
Encourage students to participate in activities.
Ensure that students clean up after activities and leave places in better shape than they found them.
Accompany students to restroom, nurse, etc.
Discipline and Safety
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Never leave a child unattended. Ensure that students are monitored and safe at all times.
Report anything that is dangerous, suspicious or inappropriate to an adult (teacher or Mr. Paymer).
Immediately report any injuries to yourself and seek appropriate attention (go to the nurse). The nurse is located inside the
Lower School from 9 am – 4 pm (x 3042).
If you feel that certain students are making it difficult for you to manage an activity, please sit the student out of the activity
and report the behavior to a faculty member. Volunteers should not discipline students.
Personal Conduct
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The St. Paul’s School behavioral guidelines will be observed during the program.
Volunteers must display respect to all students, staff, faculty and property.
Please assist staff members in whatever manner needed.
Please refrain from talking about social lives while at Bridges.
Please keep cell phones and computers off while at Bridges.
Please no tight fitting or short cut clothing
Hoop or dangly earrings are not permitted.
Please do not eat food and candy in the halls or bring it for students (unless discussed with a teacher).
Other Important Information
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Please park all vehicles behind the St. Paul’s Boys’ Middle School.
In the event of severe weather, seek shelter in a windowless hallway.
In the case of fire, gather students and walk them to the nearest exit.
The library is a designated silent area. Please keep students on task and doing work when they are inside of it.
No food or drink may be taken from the cafeteria.
No outside food or drink is allowed inside the buildings. Please confiscate and throw away any food you find students eating
outside of the cafeteria.
School property and all equipment needs to be handled with care. If you have a question on whether or not something is
being used appropriately, end the activity until you get your question answered.
Be flexible; as needs change over the summer, volunteers may be reassigned to a different grade.
VOLUNTEERS UNABLE TO FULFILL THE ABOVE RESPONSIBILITIES MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE
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Bridges Volunteer Application
Please print all fields clearly
Name ________________________________________ Grade ________Date of Birth_______________________
Student Email___________________________________ Phone ___________________ T-Shirt Size____________
Parent Name ____________________________ Parent Email____________________________________________
Parent Signature ________________________________________________________________Date____________
***Parent signature confirms that there is no conflict with your summer schedule during this time.
Length of Commitment
How many weeks do you want to volunteer at Bridges? (Please circle one)
2 weeks
3 weeks
Availability
Circle any weeks (8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday) that you would be available to volunteer at Bridges. Flexibility is
appreciated and helps with scheduling.
Week 1: June 23 – June 27
Week 3: July 7 – July 11
Week 2: July 30 – July 3
Week 4: July 14 – July 18
Week 5: July 21 – July 25
Please circle the one volunteer training session you plan to attend:
May 3 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
May 10 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Please circle the date below to confirm your attendance at All-Program Orientation on June 22:
June 21 from 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Preferences and Background
Please circle the school-level of Bridges students you prefer to work with (while this does not guarantee any specific assignment,
your preference will be strongly considered)
Elementary School (Grades 4,5,6)
Middle School (Grades 7,8,9)
Do you have any special skills / experiences that might be useful for working with children? (Circle any that apply)
Tutoring
Sports
Life-guarding
Studio Arts
Camp Counseling
Musical Instruments
Performing Arts
Other
Details:_________________________________________________________________________________________
What is your main reason for wanting to volunteer at Bridges?
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