Palatine High students volunteer at local elementary schools

While sophomores and juniors at Palatine High School were taking state tests recently, freshmen and seniors had the opportunity to participate in Palatine High School's second annual Day of Service. The event gave nearly 100 students the opportunity to volunteer at four elementary schools.

Palatine High School Social Studies teacher Andrea Guthrie said the day was arranged to allow students who had out of school conflicts the opportunity to volunteer.

"For a lot of our students, a big challenge is transportation and timing," Guthrie said. "This allowed us to provide transportation and a set time frame. We wanted to make this within the confines of a school day."

She added that the chosen day was based on the state test, which freshmen and seniors would have open time due to not taking state tests.

Senior Jazmin Galvan went to Lincoln Elementary School, where she read with the young students before playing at recess with them. Galvan had attended Lincoln as a younger student.

"It was really good to see my old school," Galvan said. "This was a good opportunity to go back and to work with the younger kids."

Guthrie said she had to limit the number of students participating this year due to the need to balance staff chaperones with test proctors at the school and number of volunteer sites. She said the Palatine Boosters provided funds to aid in purchase of shirts for the students.

For Galvan, the highlight was the response from the students.

"It was great to see the looks on their faces after they asked me if I could go to recess with them," she said. "The trip also brought back a lot of memories from elementary school."

Guthrie said she is always looking for additional locations open to student volunteers. Anyone interested can contact her at aguthrie@d211.org.