Sarah (left) and Mariana
Sarah joined Hollis Montessori in the fall of 2016 when she transferred her two sons to HMS into our Upper Elementary and Adolescent programs. HMS is just one of many places to be graced by Sarah’s drive for volunteering. In her free time, Sarah enjoys running, reading, and walking the roads with her dogs.
Where did your volunteering begin?
There's something special about volunteering. It is being able to connect with somebody with no strings attached. It comes from truly wanting to be there and provide an opportunity or a service with those you are with. In many ways, my life has become one big opportunity to volunteer! I'm grateful for that.
Two weeks after I graduated from college I became a Peace Corps volunteer and served in Morocco and the Central African Republic, where I worked in a hospital assisting midwives and oversaw a clinic for malnourished children. After teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in Poland I traveled throughout Europe and Asia for a year. I returned home, met my husband, and together we moved to Romania to lead a group home for orphans and oversee a Maternal Clinic for single moms. Through these experiences I have studied and attempted to speak 5 languages: Arabic, French, Sango, Romanian and Polish. I am now enrolled in a Spanish class as I am hoping to use it in Guatemala to support volunteer projects that my sister is involved in there.
Do you retain any ties from your previous volunteering experiences?
I have very few ties with the opportunities I've had in the past. I tend to complete something and then move on. However, my time in Romania did give me the opportunity to have Mariana in my life. She's a result of volunteering in Romania.
What drives you to volunteer?
Being there for my children, their friends, and to stay in better touch with the community of children and parents that my children are a part of. When I am new to a community it helps me to establish myself.
What types of volunteering do you do for HMS?
Having seen successful running clubs for children in Nashua I started the running club here at HMS. The program began with 12 children in our first year and now, in our third year, we have 48! The children range in age from 5 to 12 years of age. The running club takes a village with those numbers and a variety of ages so there are 4 volunteers who assist me for each session.
I also volunteered to support students with their MMUN (Montessori United Nations) projects and chaperoned their trip to NYC. The joy of this work is getting to know my son’s teacher and to support her classroom. The additional upside is getting to know the families my children know. I have also worked on fundraising for the school and drive for the school’s Going Out Program.
Do you volunteer elsewhere?
My middle son just joined Nashua North High School this fall. I was asked to be a parent rep for the school in hiring the new assistant principal. I also enjoy making people meals when I see a need to fill. I enjoy giving my time to people with food. And now, as my parents have aged, most of my volunteer time is going to my parents.
What is one of your favorite memories or experiences that you have had while volunteering?
Recently one of the young runners on our team was scared before a race. She looked at me with fear in her eyes and said she did not want to do the race. We talked it through and before I knew it the whistle was being blown. This specific runner came in last. There were over 300 kids running this race. She literally walked across the finish line. As she finished the race, there were tears in her eyes and she was despondent. I tried to coax her through her pain but knew that she was going to have to process some things on her own.
A week later there she was at the starting line about to run another race. She ran her best time of the year and you could tell there was a lot of personal satisfaction in her performance. When I saw the smile on her face and the joy she experienced, it was worth doing the running club this year. It's pretty special that I can provide an opportunity for a child to overcome an obstacle.
What advice would you give to HMS parent volunteers new to volunteering at the school?
I would encourage parents to stay involved in the school. We want to know what's going on with our children's lives, we want to know who is spending the day with our kids.
I also think it's instrumental that we support the teachers. They have a big job on their hands and any way that we can support them is critical. The more support the administrators and the teachers can get, the more successful the school will be. Many hands make light work. We all have busy lives. If we are there to support one another, it only makes for a healthy community.
HMS Running Club