If you enjoy working with kids, or want to improve your teaching skills, Hackley’s new community service program, the Park Avenue School Project, is right for you. Each Tuesday, Hackley students go to the Park Avenue School in Port Chester, NY to assist with Park Avenue’s after school program. The project is organized by Upper School Community Service Coordinator Nicole Butterfield. Upper School Director Andy King, who a friend of the principal of the elementary school, also facilitated the creation and growth of the project.

The Park Avenue School was chosen for this project because “the town has a level of financial and ethnic diversity not often seen by Hackley students,” said sophomore Lexi Schechter. The project is also very beneficial for the students at the school. “[The Park Avenue] students are able to receive more one on one learning time than their teachers, who often are in charge of large classes, are able to provide” said Lexi.

While at the Park Avenue School, each Hackley student visits a class in each of the grades from kindergarten through fifth grade. “We sit in the classroom and help the students with their homework and we travel with them to the cafeteria for art, the gymnasium for P.E., and the computer lab or science lab,” said sophomore Jessica Feldman.

Student volunteers also assist in classroom activities.“We help with basic addition and subtraction, tracing letters and words, or just singing songs and playing games with them,” said sophomore Grace Rubin.

Sophomore Cosima Boettner finds working alongside the students to be a vastly rewarding experience. “Their eyes always light up when they discover something new and they always want to impress you,” she said.

Grace finds the project similarly gratifying, and has particularly special memories of helping a student with an arts and crafts project.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid as happy as he was when he held his [art project] for the first time, and it just felt so good to give these kids special attention that they don’t usually see during the school day,” she said.

The Park Avenue School Project is open to all students in the Upper School, and is ideal for students who take physical education classes. On Mondays and Wednesdays, students can attend their PE classes, and on Tuesdays, they can go to the Park Avenue School and help with the after school program, which runs from 3:15 to around 5:15. “If you like working with kids and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with helping others, this program is definitely right for you. There’s no commitment to go every week, so feel free to sign up one week just to give it a try!” said Jess.