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Bringing After-School Help Closer to Home

Posted on: Thursday, 1 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Gail Smith-Arrants, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Dec. 1--A new program at Winecoff Elementary School is aimed at students who need after-school help -- with a twist.

Adult and high school student volunteers tutor the Winecoff children where they live, at apartment complexes near the school.

The weekly program, called Homework Helpstation, is part of an overall plan Nicole Rose has to connect with students and parents outside the school setting.

Rose, who came to Winecoff this year, is in a new position called Family and School Advocate. She's always looking for more ways to get parents involved.

Her school has about 1,000 students, and 60 percent of them are in the free and reduced-price lunch program (frequently used as a measure of the number of low-income families at a school).

Often, parents can't take their children to other places for tutoring, and many don't speak English, Rose said.

"At Winecoff, we have a really high at-risk population.... A lot of times, the parents are home and don't have transportation, or they don't speak the language or don't feel comfortable" coming to the school, she said.

"The main idea behind this is to increase parent involvement," Rose said. "The bottom line is building (family) relationships with teachers outside the classroom."

The tutoring takes place 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on most Thursdays at the clubhouses at Water's Edge, The Landings and Huntington apartments off N.C. 73.Each site has at least one adult and two high school students, who just have to walk to their apartments' clubhouse.

Since Winecoff is in the Northwest Cabarrus High School district, Rose has been recruiting Northwest students as tutors, from either the AWSUM Club (a student service club) or Future Teachers of America.

Although the program just started in October, sometimes up to 10 Winecoff students come to be tutored.

During the two hours, they do homework, work with flashcards, practice reading and play educational games. They especially like bingo, whether it's money bingo, sight-word bingo or time-telling bingo.

"Anything to practice those skills," Rose said. "The kids love it."

Volunteers are still needed, Rose said.

"I want to expand and offer a session here at Winecoff, and to other apartment areas. To do that, I need a volunteer base first."

She'd also like to start after-school groups, such as sports, book and art clubs, and possibly explore whether to offer transportation. The activities would be aimed at children whose families can't afford to pay fees to join recreation leagues or private sports leagues.

Through Homework Helpstation, she's beginning to reach those families.

"It will take time for things to catch on, but it's a start," Rose said.

WANT TO HELP?

--Homework Helpstation needs adults to supervise the sign-in sheet, help tutor students, donate snacks and handle any behavior issues. If you want to volunteer, contact Nicole Rose, Winecoff's Family and School Advocate, at (704) 782-4322 or nrose@cabarrus.k12.nc.us

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

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