After school program helps students in community
The after-school program at Palacios library is a way for students to get help with tutoring in any subject from history to math.
Print- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
Post a Comment
- •
Favorite- •
-
Report error
-
Thank you for your submission.Error report or correction
- Close
-
- •
Gabriela Cruz has seen the inside of the library change over the years.
She has seen bookshelves moved from one side to the other and has seen computers added, but one thing has remained the same – the after-school tutoring program.
For the past 10 years, Cruz has been one of many children in Palacios to participate in the after-school program.
“This program has been a big part of my life,” said the high school junior. “I can get help in any subject and the tutors can help us find solutions to problems we may be needing help with.”
And the tutors are students themselves. They are part of the National Honor Society at Palacios High School.
Senior Elizabeth Castanon has been tutoring for three years and says she enjoys helping others.
“Some of the tutoring also benefits myself, too,” she said.
“By helping others with algebra and geometry, it keeps my math skills stay fresh and makes calculus easier,” she said.
The Friends of the Library of Palacios started the program in 1995. The group looked for ways to help the community and found that English was a second language in many homes, with Vietnamese and Spanish being the language spoken most.
“We realized that many of the children in the community needed help with homework,” said John Groth, Palacios Library board of director.
The program started off with five children and over the years has grown to as many as 50 students a day, he said.
Each grade level is divided into groups and sectioned to different parts of the library.
“This has become a very successful program because the children who were mentored, are now mentoring the new generation,” he said.
After homework is completed, student are allowed time on the computer to play educational games or browse the Internet, said Pat Yeager, president of the library board.
The program is funded through the Century Club, which is a club that supports the library and an annual event named the Harvest Moon dinner, a formal dinner to honor the members. The event also has a silent auction. The money raised is used to pay the salary of the tutors in Palacios and for the Internet access at the Palacios and Blessing library.
Century Club members pay a yearly fee and have a plaque engraved with their names that hang at the library.
Teachers from the school district and the library work together, sharing information to see which students are having success and which students needs help, she said.
The teachers also meet with the library staff and do an annual review of the program.
“We work together and see what we can do to improve the program each year,” said Groth.
The program has had a 90 percent rate for kids improving, he said.
“We sit down with teachers and try to formulate and think of ways to help out the other 10 percent who need help,” he explained.
“We are just amazed at the number of students that we are helping,” said Mary Buentello, assistant director of the library.
“This program is very important not only for the children because we teach them to do their homework,” she said. “But also to inspire them with information and knowledge being here at the library. It is also great for the community because these children are the future of the city.”