Volunteers of Warwick Schools (VOWS) held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception May 7 at Potowomut Golf Club. The event is held to thank all volunteers for their service to the children of the Warwick Public Schools, and each year spotlights a few individuals for their accomplishments. A crowd filled the ballroom for conversation and an hors d’oeuvres reception.

Mary Townsend, chairman of the VOWS board of directors, welcomed the guests and city officials and dignitaries in attendance. Mayor Scott Avedisian offered congratulations on behalf of the City of Warwick, and School Committeewoman Bethany Furtado gave greetings on behalf of the Warwick Public Schools.

VOWS’ executive director Claire Flaherty introduced each of the volunteers of the year, as chosen by their school communities for outstanding dedication and service to the students of the Warwick Public Schools. The honorees are Elizabeth Borg-Myatt, Drum Rock Early Childhood Center and Greenwood Elementary School; Monica Burr, Lippitt School; Timothy Colt, Oakland Beach School; Cheryle Dreyer, Warren A. Sherman School; Shirley Keene, E.T. Wyman School; Chanthavy Khlok, Randall Holden School; Linda Lajeunesse, Holliman School; Heather Lynch, Cedar Hill School; Mary Ann McCurry, Harold F. Scott School; Erin Moran, Park School; Gina O’Connell, Warwick Neck School; Margaret Quell, Cottrell F. Hoxsie School; Margaret Shelton, Norwood School; Donald Skuce, Elsie Robertson School; Luisa Vuolo, John Wickes School and Karen Wild, John Brown Francis School.

In addition, Flaherty acknowledged some volunteers who gave an extra effort in delivering VOWS’ programs and services with “Above and Beyond” Recognition. Those volunteers are Mary Conroy, Janet Fenton, Lori Ferreira, Anne Goldman, Amy Kuaiwa, Shawne Moniz and Sandra Norton.

The program concluded with the presentation of the 2015 Robert J. Shapiro Award by Audrey Shapiro. The award was established by the VOWS Board to honor the memory of the former Warwick Public Schools’ Superintendent and long-time VOWS board member. The award is given annually to an administrator within the Warwick Public Schools who embodies Bob Shapiro’s commitment to the mission of the VOWS program. This year’s recipient is Ronald Celio, principal of Wyman Elementary School and a member of the VOWS board of directors.

VOWS has provided volunteers to help meet the educational needs of Warwick school children since 1975. As the Warwick Public Schools’ centrally-directed, district-wide school volunteer management system, VOWS recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers for teacher-requested, teacher-supervised educational activities that offer assistance to students within our schools. VOWS enlists the help of concerned parents, friends and community members who are interested in making an investment in their children and our schools by sharing their time and talent in educationally supportive tasks, including but not limited to Child Outreach Developmental Screening, preparation of teaching materials for student use in the classrooms, one to one tutoring of students, working with small groups of students in skill building activities and library support. Through March of this school year, VOWS volunteers have collectively given over 5,000 hours of volunteer support to the Warwick Public Schools.