Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson recognized the Volunteers at Sippican Elementary (V.A.S.E.) organization for their ongoing support of student learning and programming. V.A.S.E.’s primary objectives are to provide Sippican students with enrichment beyond the classroom environment and to support teachers and staff.
“In my 22 years as a school administrator, I have never experienced a parent-run school support group as comprehensive and involved as our V.A.S.E. Team at Sippican School,” said Sippican Assistant Principal Peter Crisafulli. “They provide the school with amazing financial support through fundraisers. They provide opportunities for student educational enrichment by creating and staffing high-quality after-school programs. V.A.S.E. is setting a very high standard in the world of local school support groups, and we are very lucky to have them.”
Each year V.A.S.E. volunteers raise money for annual field trips for every grade at Sippican. With the exception of sixth grade, field trips are offered at no charge to students and staff chaperones. In addition to covering field trip expenses, V.A.S.E. conducts the work needed to schedule and book each field trip and, where applicable, manages permissions slips through the use of the online platform, FamilyID.
Some of the field trips include visits to the Plymouth Patuxet Museums and the Mayflower, the Cape Cod Natural History Museum, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and a three-day field trip to Camp Burgess. Other day trips to local zoos, museums and the beach were all funded and coordinated by V.A.S.E. volunteers.
“V.A.S.E. is such a wonderful part of our school community,” said second-grade teacher Ashley Sweatland. “They help facilitate amazing opportunities for our students- from fundraisers, to field trips, school-wide events and after school programs. V.A.S.E. helps enrich the lives of all of our students, and as teachers, we are so grateful for our partnership.”
Over the past two years V.A.S.E. has coordinated presentations from many performing artists who have engaged with students during school meetings, classroom visits and community events. Presentations and performances from the Fall River Mad Scientist Program, Kanaley School of Irish Dancing, Author Bill Harley, Band Blast Performing Artist El Caribe, Arts in Action: Boston Artist Bren Bataclan, New Bedford Youth Ballet and more.
V.A.S.E. also organizes a separate program called After Class Enrichment (A.C.E.) A.C.E. is free and runs once per week for four weeks, twice per school year. Any Sippican Elementary student is able to attend, and dozens of kids participate each year. Students take part in a number of courses and activities in areas such as arts and crafts, drama, foreign language, athletics, reading and more.
Some of the A.C.E. fall 2023 courses included a book club, jewelry making, 3D printing, robotics club and intramural sports. The winter 2024 sessions included gratitude crafts, introduction to French, a collective art project and others.
“We appreciate the V.A.S.E. volunteers for their consistent effort in coordinating and funding these educational and memorable activities for our students,” said Nelson.
V.A.S.E. holds multiple fundraisers throughout the year, making it possible to secure these day-to-day activities for students. The Boosterthon is their largest fundraising effort that raises funds for all enrichment activities and grosses over half of all monies needed to support V.A.S.E.’s annual budget.
This year’s Boosterthon theme is “World Changer Workshop”, taking place March 1-12. Students will learn about what it takes to make a difference by being introduced to a number of character lessons. This fundraiser is the students’ most favorite event that includes an indoor, glow-in-the-dark “Fun Run” in which students run laps for donations toward V.A.S.E.’s enrichment programs.