Call this a community-service column.

I want to once again plug Santa Fe Public Schools' Office of Student Wellness website, Let's Talk (www.letstalksantafe.org), as it offers resources for parents and students to understand and deal with bullying, substance abuse, depression and other personal issues facing students today.

Meanwhile Helen Pacheco, volunteer coordinator for Santa Fe Public Schools, was at the Roundhouse on Friday drumming up interest and support for the district's volunteer program. Some 2,000 people volunteer for the schools now, but she's looking for at least 50 more who can commit at least an hour a week this semester.

"Reading is a priority," she said, as the elementary schools in particular are seeking volunteers to read to children. If you have more advanced skills and feel you could volunteer as, say, a math tutor in a high school, that can be arranged, she said.

To become a volunteer, you need to complete some paperwork (and sign off on a form confirming that you have read the district's Code of Conduct), agree to a fingerprint and background check, and meet with a principal and/or teacher before being assigned to a particular school. If you are interested, call Pacheco at 467-2050 or email her at hpacheco@sfps.info.

The district's annual Volunteer and Donor Recognition Event takes place from 4-6 p.m. April 19 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Marcy Street.


Along those lines, Elaine Coleman, librarian at Carlos Gilbert Elementary School, is looking for volunteers in the library. While obviously seeking guest readers and guest writers to read their works (though she stresses a school library is not the place for said writers to try to do book-signings and sales!), she said she's always in need of volunteers to help maintain the library's collection of some 12,000 books. Call her at 467-4710 or email her at ecoleman@sfps.info.


And on a reading note: Check out sixth-grade teacher Donalyn Miller's website, The Book Whisperer -- bookwhisperer.com -- in which she recommends children and young-adult books, provides links to Web resources on reading, writing and spelling, and maintains a blog with her thoughts on reading. She's the author of the 2009 book The Book Whisperer: Awakening The Inner Reader in Every Child.


The State Bar of New Mexico is urging high-school juniors and seniors from the state to write an essay on personal freedom within the school system. Essays must be in the 1,000- to 1,500-word range and will be rated by a panel of lawyers, State Bar staff, judges and educators.

The law firm of Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk PA sponsors cash awards of $1,000 (first place), $750 (second place), and $500 (third place).

Plus the first-place winner's classroom gets $500.

Winners are honored at a Law Day luncheon in Albuquerque in May.

This is the 23rd year of the contest, promoted by the State Bar to support educators and encourage an appreciation of law. The deadline is March 1. Visit www.nmbar.org and find the link to the essay information to find out more regarding the guidelines, theme and so on.

Contact Robert Nott at 986-3021 or rnot@sfnewmexican.com.