Falmouth VIPS: Small Program, Big Impact!
Falmouth VIPS program and volunteers impact every student, every day.
You can be confident that your donation will go directly to supporting programming in our schools-programming that enhances the curriculum and makes the best use of our community resources: people, partnerships, and opportunities.
You can be confident that your donation will go directly to supporting programming in our schools-programming that enhances the curriculum and makes the best use of our community resources: people, partnerships, and opportunities.
Nearly 40 years ago, Falmouth Public Schools made a commitment to involve the community in public education in Falmouth. At Falmouth High School, eight volunteers began tutoring students in 1983 through the newly created Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) program. Today, nearly 1,000 volunteers give the gift of their time each school year. No matter what their role—or how many hours they give—these volunteers are welcomed into our schools. Our staff members guide our volunteers, show their appreciation, and share their passion for our students; that is the reason VIPS volunteers come back year after year.
The Falmouth VIPS volunteer program has become a model for other school districts throughout Massachusetts. Falmouth VIPS is a nonprofit organization. While a portion of the annual operating budget is funded by the district, VIPS is responsible for raising over half of its annual budget. Funding makes it possible to bring learning opportunities for Falmouth students that very few districts have. Here are just a few examples:
Changing Lives through Higher Education
Since its inception in 2014, the FHS College Mentoring Program has made college a reality for dozens of economically disadvantaged but academically promising FHS students. Falmouth VIPS helps identify college mentors and coordinates bus trips for college visits, while guidance staff and program leaders work with students and their families to identify funding and review student acceptances and financial aid packages, with the goal of graduating on time with as little debt as possible. This program, now referred to as "the Zorski Project" in honor of the late Jack Zorski, a VIPS volunteer who brought the concept for this program to Falmouth, is changing the lives of these students and their families.
Encouraging Peer Relationships
- The VIPS Cross-Age Science Teaching (CAST) program helps bring science to life for every third grader in the district (300 students/year), matching the young students with 8th grade science buddies.
- Each year, the FHS Peer Mentoring Program matches 15 upperclassmen with 50+ middle school students, serving as role models, offering consistent visits, and providing friendship. Modeled after the VIPS school-based mentoring program, FHS peer mentors are provided training and support.
Modeling Healthy Choices
Volunteer facilitators help participants build self-esteem and gain confidence through the Girls Circle/Be Fit, Be Well Program (for girls in grades 4-8) and the Work It Out! program (for students in grades 5-6). These opportunities introduce students to age-appropriate themes, exploring topics such as peer pressure, body image, friendship, and relationships. Activities encourage students to challenge themselves and build trust within the group.
Forging Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are at the core of Falmouth VIPS. These partnerships provide volunteers, programs, services, and relationships that benefit students, staff, and the community. Long-time VIPS partners include Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod 5, Falmouth Road Race, and the U.S. Coast Guard Southeastern Sector.
Falmouth Leads by Example
Falmouth VIPS has served as the model school volunteer program for school districts throughout the region, most recently Bourne, Barnstable, Martha’s Vineyard, Monomoy, New Bedford, and Old Rochester and met with administrators from Plymouth and Mashpee.
The Falmouth VIPS volunteer program has become a model for other school districts throughout Massachusetts. Falmouth VIPS is a nonprofit organization. While a portion of the annual operating budget is funded by the district, VIPS is responsible for raising over half of its annual budget. Funding makes it possible to bring learning opportunities for Falmouth students that very few districts have. Here are just a few examples:
Changing Lives through Higher Education
Since its inception in 2014, the FHS College Mentoring Program has made college a reality for dozens of economically disadvantaged but academically promising FHS students. Falmouth VIPS helps identify college mentors and coordinates bus trips for college visits, while guidance staff and program leaders work with students and their families to identify funding and review student acceptances and financial aid packages, with the goal of graduating on time with as little debt as possible. This program, now referred to as "the Zorski Project" in honor of the late Jack Zorski, a VIPS volunteer who brought the concept for this program to Falmouth, is changing the lives of these students and their families.
Encouraging Peer Relationships
- The VIPS Cross-Age Science Teaching (CAST) program helps bring science to life for every third grader in the district (300 students/year), matching the young students with 8th grade science buddies.
- Each year, the FHS Peer Mentoring Program matches 15 upperclassmen with 50+ middle school students, serving as role models, offering consistent visits, and providing friendship. Modeled after the VIPS school-based mentoring program, FHS peer mentors are provided training and support.
Modeling Healthy Choices
Volunteer facilitators help participants build self-esteem and gain confidence through the Girls Circle/Be Fit, Be Well Program (for girls in grades 4-8) and the Work It Out! program (for students in grades 5-6). These opportunities introduce students to age-appropriate themes, exploring topics such as peer pressure, body image, friendship, and relationships. Activities encourage students to challenge themselves and build trust within the group.
Forging Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are at the core of Falmouth VIPS. These partnerships provide volunteers, programs, services, and relationships that benefit students, staff, and the community. Long-time VIPS partners include Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod 5, Falmouth Road Race, and the U.S. Coast Guard Southeastern Sector.
Falmouth Leads by Example
Falmouth VIPS has served as the model school volunteer program for school districts throughout the region, most recently Bourne, Barnstable, Martha’s Vineyard, Monomoy, New Bedford, and Old Rochester and met with administrators from Plymouth and Mashpee.
