VOWS is back, not that it ever went away, and it has moved.  As of Monday, VOWS and its three-member staff are working from Park School. They were formerly located at WELC (Warwick Early Learning Center).

The pandemic put a crimp in the Volunteers of Warwick Schools. With all that Covid did to schools, from taking kids out of classrooms and putting them in front of computers to the masking and distancing when they returned, the role of VOWS from pre-school to kindergarten developmental screening to tutoring was restricted if not eliminated.

The program’s executive director Nicole Spirito was pleased Thursday evening that that is behind them and once again the program is in full swing. At the VOWS awards and appreciation event held at Chelo’s Restaurant on Post Road, Spirito reported during the year, 650 second graders completed the Heads Up program. Heads Up is a 10-week anti-bullying program that VOWS is now exploring to extend to 5th grade.

Spirito also reported volunteers screened 1,100 preschoolers. All Warwick preschool children between the ages of 3 and 5 are offered screenings in general development, speech and language, vision and hearing. Parents participate by sharing information about their children’s social and emotional development. The program offers information about community resources.

The evening was a celebration of the volunteers who provide services to all elementary schools. It was the first awards and volunteer appreciation night since 2018.  In remarks Mayor Frank Picozzi recalled his years as a member of the Warwick School Committee and the close relationship between the school administration and VOWS. “There is nothing more pure than the heart of a volunteer h,” he said.

Superintendent Lynn Dambruch spoke of how volunteers give freely of their time and the positive impact they have on the system.

Audrey Shapiro was surprised when she arrived at the event, opened the program and learned she would be presenting the award to the individual who emulates her late husband, superintendent Robert J. Shapiro.  Audrey rose to the occasion, saying that her husband “felt like the superintendent of the whole city,” in that he took his responsibility of serving the community so seriously. The Robert J. Shapiro Award went to Oakland Beach Principal Paul Heatherton.

Many of the 75 VOWS volunteers turned out for the event. They were joined by school principals, members of the administration and School Committee members.

Much of the work performed by volunteers, especially the screening at all of the city’s preschools is a tremendous savings to the school department that would otherwise be faced with screening the children.

Funding comes from a school allocation of $66,000, city allocation of $10,000, grants, fundraising events and donations. The overall budget ranges from $125,000 to $145,000.