On-Campus Opportunities

Click on the name of a work or volunteer opportunity from the list below to view its description.

At Williamstown Elementary School (5-minute walk)

At Mt. Greylock Regional Middle and High School (Transportation facilitated, 10-minute drive)

On the Williams Campus

Other Opportunities in the Surrounding Area

Also:

At Williamstown Elementary School (5-minute walk)

America Reads/America Counts (work-study and volunteer)

America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) is a federally funded work-study program that supports literacy in math and reading in the local public school. Williams work-study students may serve as classroom aids during the school day, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Williamstown Elementary School (WES) and as after-school homework tutors on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-4:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00 p.m. The Williams ARAC coordinator will also help place non-work-study students as volunteers in these schools when possible. All tutoring involves weekly commitments of 2-6 hours for 1 or 2 semesters.

Contact Kaatje White, [email protected].

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Adventures in Learning (volunteer)

“Adventures in Learning” is a collaborative program of Williams College and the Williamstown Elementary School. Williams students create their own six-week courses that encourage learning for sheer pleasure, without reference to grades or performance standards. The program, now in its 14th year, offers 20 or more classes each winter to some 100 local students with subjects ranging from dance and theater to cooking and classics! Classes run one day a week after school from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.williams.edu/outreach/ail, or contact Lauren Gotlieb, [email protected], and Cecilia Hirsch,[email protected].

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The Elementary Science Education Outreach Program (formerly HHMI, paid and work-study)

The Elementary Science Education Outreach Program brings Williams students into K-5 classrooms at Williamstown Elementary (short walk from campus), or in North Adams at Brayton Elementary (6-minute drive), or Greylock Elementary (5-minute drive). Depending on your style and preference, you will be paired with a teacher and gain experience in the classroom either by assisting the teacher with science lessons, or by bringing prepared science units into the classroom and teaching from the prepared unit. Involves weekly commitment of 3-5 hours/week for one or both semesters. Opportunities also available to supervise and assist young children with computer work.

For info, placement and help with transportation, contact Science Liaison, Jennifer Swoap, [email protected].

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At Mt. Greylock Regional Middle and High School (Transportation facilitated, 10-minute drive)

Mt. Greylock Tutoring and Homework Club (work-study and volunteer)

Williams students may tutor and assist with homework after school at Mt. Greylock Middle School on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 (or 2:30)-4:00 p.m., or at the High School on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00 (or 2:30)-4:00 p.m. Tutors may be paired one-on-one with a student for the entire semester or year, or serve in a drop-in center. The focus is on academic help, and extra help is needed in the area of math. These are all relatively new programs and mentoring of Williams students by Greylock teachers is included. A Greylock teacher will also be on hand for daily supervision. Students may become certified to drive college vehicles and free bus transportation to and from the school is also available. All tutoring involves weekly commitments of 2-6 hours for 1 or 2 semesters.

Contact Kaatje White, [email protected].

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All’s Well! (volunteer)

An in-school enrichment program that offers Mt. Greylock 7th grade students stimulating, hands-on courses. Held during one morning in October and December, middle school students will have the opportunity to select two workshops from a list of ten that include subjects like “The Art of Making Apple Cider”, “A Wish For Our Future—Prayer Flags”, “Singing From The Heart (and for the lungs)”, and “New Games.” Workshop instructors will be volunteers from Williams College and the local community.

Contact Kaatje White, [email protected].

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Williams College Writing Fellows Program (paid and work-study; program is selective)

This year, 11 Williams students were chosen to participate in the 9th Grade Writing Seminar and a few 10th grade English classes at Mt. Greylock Regional School. Williams students will be mentored by Mt. Greylock teachers and will work one-on-one with students in class on drafts and the writing process. 6-10 hours of work a week required.

Students interested in applying for next year should contact Liz Costley,[email protected] in April 2010. For more information about the program, go to www.mgrhs.org and click on the Williams Center link.

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On the Williams Campus

Mt. Greylock High School Tutoring (volunteer)

Volunteers work one-on-one with high school students in a variety of subjects. Tutoring sessions take place on campus in the evenings. At least one hour a week commitment is required for 1 or 2 semesters.

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Other Opportunities in the Surrounding Area

America Reads/America Counts at Hancock Elementary Schools (work-study and volunteer, 15-minute drive)

America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) is a federally funded work-study program that supports literacy in math and reading in the local public schools. Williams work-study students may tutor after-school at Hancock Elementary School on Mondays from 2:00-4:30 p.m. Rides can usually be coordinated and students may be paid to drive others. Hancock Elementary is a small rural school about a 15-minute drive away.

ARAC coordinator will also help place non-work-study students as volunteers at Hancock when possible. All tutoring involves weekly commitments of 2-6 hours for 1 or 2 semesters.

Contact Kaatje White, [email protected]

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Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School, BArT (volunteer, 20-minute drive)

Volunteers are needed to serve as reading or math tutors at the Berkshire Arts & Technology School (BArT), a 6-12 grade charter school located in Adams. The tutors will work mainly with middle school (6th-8th grade) kids, one-to-one, in an after-school program from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tutors will come once or (preferably) twice a week. Rides can usually be coordinated and students may be paid to drive others.

Contact Kaatje White, [email protected].

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Williamstown Youth Center (volunteer, 10-minute walk)

The Williamstown Youth Center facilitates an after-school program for elementary and middle school students. Help children with homework Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3:15-5:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 1:45-5:15 p.m. College students can also spend time with children in the gym, playing strategic board games, etc.

In addition, the Youth Center in collaboration with the Williams Center at Mt. Greylock afterschool homework program is sponsoring fun games and activities at Mt. Greylock Regional Middle School. This program will run on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons from 2:30-5:00 p.m. Transportation is provided.

Contact David Rempell by telephone, (413) 458-5925, or via e-mail,[email protected].

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The Big Sib Program (volunteer)

The Big Sib Program seeks to foster strong one-to-one relationships between Williams College students and local children. This program allows Williams students to share interests, get to know more about the community and support the emotional and social development of children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. Weekly contact with your Little Sib is expected.

Contact Wendy Powell, [email protected], and Emily M. Studenmund ’11, [email protected].

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PAW Pals and America Reads/America Counts at Pownal Elementary School (volunteer, 15-minute drive; must coordinate own transportation)

PAW pals is a mentoring program in which each Williams student is paired up with a child from Pownal Elementary School in need of a role model. Williams students visit during lunch, recess or class time. Groups will leave at noon and return around 1-1:15 p.m. (times can be flexible) once a week. In addition, work-study students may tutor in math and literacy and be paid through the America Reads/America Counts federal work-study program.

Contact Mary Natalizia, [email protected]. If work-study, contact Kaatje White, [email protected].

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Pine Cobble School (volunteer, 15-minute walk)

Pine Cobble is a small, independent, co-educational day school for grades pre-K-9. Chance to work closely with teachers in a variety of grades. Small class size and lots of valuable mentoring from seasoned teachers. Opportunities in the classroom, on playing fields and on stage. For more information contact the school at (413) 458-4680. Pine Cobble is a 10-minute bike ride away.

Contact Nick Edgerton, [email protected].

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Also:

Williams College Program in Teaching (class credit)

Students who participate in the Advanced Seminar in Teaching at Williams will be required to fulfill a practicum at one of the area schools.

Contact program director Susan Engel, [email protected], for more information.

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