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The Brampton Guardian
Volunteer work wins mom kudos
The Brampton Guardian
Wednesday July 2 2008
By Roger Belgrave, Staff Writer
 
BRAMPTON - Terri Kelloway spends almost as much time at the local elementary school as her children.
The mother of three was recently presented with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Kelloway and Mississauga’s Grace Williamson are the first ever recipients of the award established and presented by the board’s Central Committee for Catholic School Councils.
Board and committee members created the award to recognize the valuable roles volunteers play in local Catholic schools and communities.
Kelloway, co-chair of the parent council at Bishop Francis Allen Catholic School, has been an involved member of the local school community for many years as her children have grown up in the system. All three are currently attending the Brampton school.
Kelloway’s leadership and ideas have helped launch and coordinate several projects benefiting students and parents at the school.
One of her most personally treasured initiatives is the school’s community barbecue- ignited almost six years ago as a way to thank parents for their volunteer efforts. The annual event has become an enjoyable community-building affair for parents, staff and children. Attendance has swelled to 500, Kelloway estimated.
“It’s worked out to be this amazing event that everyone looks forward to,” Kelloway said proudly.
Other successful events Kelloway has a hand in include the school’s fundraising dance-a-thons and Pizza Days. The latter also provides students with a pizza lunch once a month.
She was involved in acquiring a government grant to produce a school information brochure for immigrant families and getting the information translated into nine languages.
Kelloway views it as a helpful community-based initiative that also celebrates the school’s diversity.
“That really is a wonderful thing,” she explained. “When they come to curriculum night they see a brochure in their language.”
A separate welcome brochure and package was also created for new parents to the country or community.
She organizes regular workshops to inform parents about annual provincial reading, writing and math assessment tests administered in Ontario schools by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).
Kelloway also helps with a parent patrol to control traffic during student drop-off and pick-up and is a regular volunteer assisting staff on school excursions.
During the Christmas season, she helps organize a mass and fellowship social at the local parish. “It’s just a great way to share Christmas and the joy of the season,” she said.
Board Superintendent Nick Milanetti said more than 30 award candidates were nominated from schools across the region. Kelloway’s longstanding and varied contributions to the school community made her stand out among nominees.
“She’s unselfish with her time and willing to contribute in her school as well as her local parish,” said Milanetti.
Kelloway feels she has been able to provide some valuable leadership on school council and is humbled by the award.
She accepts it with a great deal gratitude and appreciation for the help from parents on council, Principal Keith Carey, school staff, husband Steve and children, Christopher, Patrick and Jennifer.
“I’ve never been one to sit and not get involved,” she explained. “I love to volunteer and the kids, they love seeing me at the school.”
She believes her children have done better in school, inside and outside the classroom, as a result of parental involvement. Her work has provided a living example of teamwork and Christian fellowship, she explained.
Kelloway hopes the kids have extracted a few life lessons, about the value of community service and creating a sense of community, from their mother’s volunteer efforts.
“I’m hoping that’s what I’m instilling in them,” she said.
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