Search

Racing Readers: Program Volunteer

In-Person

Have fun with kids AND help them learn!

Racing Readers is a collaboration between the SFU Surrey–TD Community Engagement Centre and the Surrey School District (SD36). This after-school program seeks to improve the physical, educational and social well-being of elementary-aged students in Grades 2–5. Children participate in physical activities, reading, writing and numeracy exercises. High school, university and adult mentors (like you!) foster companionship, support, encouragement, and learning.

Option 1:

Every Tuesday

2:30 to 5:30 pm

At Georges Vanier Elementary School

6985 142 St, Surrey

Option 2:

Every Wednesday

2:30 to 5:30 pm

At Betty Huff Elementary School 

13359 81 Ave, Surrey

Racing Readers will operate at two sites:

  • George Vanier Elementary School on Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 
  • Betty Huff Elementary School on Wednesdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

In your volunteer application, please indicate if you are available for both Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoons, or just one day of the week. 

Your role:

As a Racing Readers volunteer, you will help lead students through the Racing Readers after-school program. You will help organize activity teams, coach physical activities and minor games, lead students through numeracy and literacy activities, and generally be a positive role model for respectful and fun learning.

Whether you know it or not: you are already a success story. As an SFU student, your presence alone provides a connection to higher education that can actually make a concrete difference in a young student’s life. You are real, accessible, and fun. And learning can be that way, too.

In this role, you will:

  • Acquire knowledge about the Racing Readers Program goals and curriculum.
  • Acquire knowledge on effective strategies for mentoring and encouraging students through literacy, numeracy and physical activity exercises.
  • Apply learned knowledge by leading groups of students through literacy, numeracy and physical activity exercises.
  • Adapt mentoring strategies to respond appropriately to different learner needs.
  • Apply skills and strategies to solve problems and select an appropriate course of action.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and teamwork skills
  • Apply learned knowledge of the Racing Readers curriculum by coming up with new activity ideas to meet the needs and interests of the participants attending the program.
  • Analyze situations after they have occurred, and come up with ideas and strategies for change, or methods for handling similar situations in the future
  • Plan for and respond to issues of inclusion.

Other benefits:

  • Gain experience working with school-age kids in an elementary school setting.
  • Gain experience facilitating an afterschool program.
  • Gain demonstrable leadership and mentorship experience.
  • Have the opportunity to engage with other SFU students and volunteers.
  • Earn credit on your SFU Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Program dates, times & locations:

Option 1:

  • Every Tuesday 
  • Time: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Location: Georges Vanier Elementary School (6985 142 St, Surrey)
  • Dates: October 15 to December 3, 2024 / January 28 to April 8, 2025 /May 6 to June 24, 2025.
  • MANDATORY TRAINING: Tuesday October 8th, 2024 at George Vanier Elementary School

 

Option 2:

  • Every Wednesday
  • Time: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Location: Betty Huff Elementary School (13055 Huntley Ave, Surrey)
  • Dates: October 16 to December 4, 2024 / January 29 to April 9, 2025 / May 7 to June 25, 2025.
  • MANDATORY TRAINING: Wednesday October 9th at Betty Huff Elementary School

Commitment:

We ask that volunteers plan to commit to the entire run of this program (Oct 2024 to June 2025). This 3-term commitment will benefit both yourself and your team. However, we also realize that scheduling and life circumstances may make long-term involvement difficult, so the minimum commitment you must be able to make is one full semester (e.g. October–December / January–April / May–June).

Sample Daily Schedule:

2:15 pm – Volunteer team arrives on-site
2:30 pm – Outreach Worker check-in and activity with kids + Snack
2:50 pm – Students head to main room, team check-ins
3:00 pm – Guided meditation / relaxing music
3:05 pm – Word of the day + discussion questions
3:15 pm – Reading / indoor activities
4:00 pm – Physical Activity + Snack
4:25 pm – Journaling
4:45 pm – Student dismissal (relaxing game/activity)
5:00 pm – Volunteer Debrief (ends at around 5:30 pm)

Requirements:

Please note, students from other universities & colleges may apply, but priority is given to current SFU students (undergraduate, graduate, or continuing studies) and SFU alumni.

  • Strong ability to take initiative, independently interact with program participants and be proactive. Can determine what needs to be done and do it before being asked to;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills; 
  • Excellent interpersonal and conflict management skills; 
  • Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills; 
  • Willingness and ability to work with at-risk children who may exhibit behavioral challenges; 
  • Previous experience working with children in a recreation or school setting will be considered an asset; 
  • Volunteers must attend a mandatory training session to prepare them for the program. 

TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the 'Apply Now' button below and submit your initial expression of interest.

You will then receive an email from SurveyMonkey containing our full application form which must be completed as soon as possible.

Deadline: Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 | 11:59 PM

Apply Now

Please Note: If the required number of volunteers for this opportunity is reached before the above deadline, this posting may be taken down.

 
 
Collection Notice: The information collected as part of the application process is under the authority of the University Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c.468). It is related directly to and needed by the University to administer the volunteer program through the SFU Surrey – TD Community Engagement Centre. The information will be used to screen volunteer applicants, refer applicants to opportunities of interest, and update applicants with information related to volunteer opportunities. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information please contact Associate Director, Partnerships and Programs, 250-13450 102 Avenue, Surrey BC, V3T 0A3, 778-782-8082.    

Apply now!

Ready to learn about volunteering with the community as an SFU ambassador? Join the Community Engagement Volunteer Training Program.

Learn more

This opportunity is recognized on the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official university document that tracks your co-curricular involvement at SFU. Learn more about the Co-Curricular Record at www.sfu.ca/students/get-involved/recognition/co-curricular-record.