We BC collegiettes™ have even more opportunities than we realize right here on the Heights. Because of the ridiculous number of options we have – 4Boston, Appalachia, Campus Ministry, and Splash just to name a few – the average BC student is often unaware of some of the great and prestigious groups on campus. This is where I come in. I am here to highlight some of the amazing groups on campus, starting with The Campus School.
I am sure you’ve heard the name thrown around, seen the playground outside of Campion, or walked by the buses being unloaded each and every school day. But my guess is that you may not know that much about the school. For instance, did you know it is the only school in the nation within a university campus that serves children with multiple disabilities?
To give you a better understanding of what exactly the Boston College Campus School is, I will take you back to 1970 when the school was initially founded to serve students with intensive special needs from ages 3 to 21. The program was designed to provide student-centered educational and therapeutic services in an appropriate, school-based setting. The Campus School has a surprisingly large staff consisting of full-time master teachers, teaching assistants, speech pathologists, and nurses.
I was lucky enough to visit the Campus School this past week, take a tour, and speak with Sean Schofield, the volunteer coordinator, as well as Ryan Johnson, the co-president of Campus School Volunteers. Not only were they extremely welcoming and accommodating, but also their enthusiasm and genuine love for the Campus School was contagious. The walls in Schofield’s office were completely covered in photographs of Campus School kids, handwritten letters, and student artwork. I couldn’t help but smile as I soaked everything in.
If you are interested in getting involved with the Campus School, listen up! Johnson outlined the three general goals of the Campus School volunteers. “Our work has three general areas,” said Johnson, “student-centered work directly in the school, fundraising to help support the school financially, and advocacy to increase awareness of special needs-related issues in general.” The opportunities are endless, and you can pick your commitment level to fit with your schedule. As Schofield eagerly explained, “go to MyBC and request to join the Campus School Volunteers… or call or email me– I’ll show you around!”
Another thing to think about is the Boston Marathon! Believe it or not, it’s slowly approaching, and the Campus School is always looking for runners, so keep an eye out for the upcoming information sessions on Nov. 2 and Nov. 8 at 7:30 pm in Merkert 127.
So there you have it. Hopefully now you have a better understanding of the Campus School and want to get involved! Even if you can’t make time for a volunteer commitment, make sure to always say hello to any of the Campus School students you see around campus and to spread awareness about BC’s one-of-a-kind Campus School.
The Campus School on MyBC
Join Campus School Marathon 2012 on Facebook
Follow csvbc_marathon on Twitter
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