Schools
VIBES Volunteers Make a Real Difference in the Lives of Bellevue Students
Be a Mentor. Be a Tutor. Become a Volunteer.
Mike O’Byrne is an avid Boy Scout/Sea Scout, a Mechanical Engineer, a retired Nuclear Submarine Officer, a retired executive, and a volunteer with the 's VIBES program. Mike has been a volunteer and leading scout troops most of his life. Once his own children were grown, married, and leading their own scout troops, he got involved with Learning for Life, a Boy Scout program for underprivileged students. This led to him to teacher, Jenny Prior, who introduced him to VIBES – Volunteers in Bellevue's Education System.
Mike just completed his fourth year as a VIBES volunteer. For the last two years, Mike has been matched with Luis, during his fourth and fifth grade in school. Mike focused on holding Luis accountable for homework and keeping him engaged in class, checking to make sure he understood the concepts and that he was completing his lessons. Last year, Luis got his first A on a math test, thanks to Mike’s tutelage. Mike loves his time at Stevenson: “It’s the best part of my week.”
This fall Luis moves up to middle school. Mike will follow Luis to the next level if Luis needs and wants the help, because what started as strictly tutor and student has become a friendship.
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Want to help? VIBES Volunteers are positive, dependable role models, working as one-on-one mentors, tutors or classroom volunteers. Volunteers are needed across the district in all 27 schools and for all grades. In just one hour a week, you can support academic achievement, encourage development of social skills, and motivate students to become life-long learners. Become a VIBES volunteer and make a lasting impact on a child's life.
Learn more about VIBES. Contact Sue Hanlon at hanlons@bsd405.org or 425-456-4151. You can also learn more about the Bellevue School District VIBES Mentor/Tutor Program online.
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Shelly Shellabarger is the Volunteer Program Coordinator for the City of Bellevue. To learn about other volunteering opportunities throughout the community, check out the City’s volunteer webpage at http://www.bellevuewa.gov/volunteer.htm and click on the Community Volunteering Guide. To volunteer with the City of Bellevue, contact Shelly at 425-452-5375 or Volunteer@BellevueWa.Gov.
The City of Bellevue recommends that a volunteer research an organization thoroughly before volunteering to be certain it is a good fit.