By Gail Callahan
The Burlington Free Press
March 18, 2009

Susan Bouchard spends her days at school. The Burlington mother of four adult children and grandmother of 11, comes five days during the school week to Ann Kalinoski’s kindergarten classroom at H. O. Wheeler School in the city’s Old North End. Bouchard, 76, started volunteering in Kalinoski’s classroom six years ago through the Foster Grandparent Program. She’s now there Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until the bell rings for dismissal.

Bouchard describes her role in the classroom as an assistant to Kalinoski, but her presence means that children have another adult to help them with reading skills or ask Bouchard if she’ll check their printing as they practice writing the alphabet. Because her children and four of her grandchildren attended school there, H.O. Wheeler is familiar terrain to Bouchard.

(GAIL CALLAHAN, for the Free Press) Susan Bouchard is a foster grandparent in Burlington

“I just dearly love to be with the kids,” said Bouchard.

Bouchard settled in Burlington’s New North End nearly 45 years ago and before that lived on Intervale Avenue in Burlington for about five years. She retired about 14 years ago from Mayfair department store in Burlington, where she worked in accounting. Apart from her work with the Foster Grandparent Program, Bouchard enjoys exercising and walking with her neighbors.

How did you hear about the Foster Grandparent Program?

My youngest daughter, Cassandra, found out about the program. She thought it would be good for me. She said, ‘Mom this would be perfect for you.’ The classroom feels just like a family.

What’s your passion in the classroom?

Reading is my main thing. I want to make sure these children learn and love to read. If they miss their phonics, it’s just so hard. I also go with the class to other activities like P.E. and art, which I love to do. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I’m sort of like an assistant. It’s a grandmotherly type of thing.

Why did you want to volunteer?

You retire, and you wonder what you’re going to do with your time. I’ve always worked all my life, so this wasn’t hard. Any mentoring of children is worth it, and you have to find something that keeps you busy.

What do you get out of volunteering at H.O. Wheeler?

It’s the love of the children. It makes me so happy to be with the children, and it helps you. We have little reading and writing groups. It’s fun, and I’m an extra pair of hands to help.

What would you tell others about volunteering with the Foster Grandparent Program?

I have a lot of friends who are older. I’d tell people to be a mentor and go into the classroom and read to the kids. I highly recommend it.

Source URL: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090318/NEWS02/90317028/1007

Links:
[1] United Way of Chittenden County’s Foster Grandparent Program

Tags: chittenden county, foster grandparent program, Mentoring, united way, Volunteering