Student Assistant Program
(cross-age tutor)

Service learning opportunities include our award winning Student Assistant program. It provides third, fourth and fifth graders with experiences that will enable them to be successful in school, at home, in the work place and in life as responsible members of society. The program received the John Greenleaf Whittier Award for Character Education Impact II Innovator Grant. It supports our Monroe Village concept of service to our school community. Training includes job skills such as reliability, promptness and responsibility, and teaching strategies, such as sight word drill and paired reading. Students apply for positions, agree to work during their recess or lunch period and are matched with teacher requests. Assistants run the gamut from special needs, general education and GATE students to English learners. In answer to "Why do you want this job? Why are you a good person for this job?" one fourth grade applicant wrote, "I am a very good reader. I like little kids. I can be trusted."

There are currently 48 student volunteers serving 16 classrooms. Also, twelve upper grade and primary classrooms have paired up as 'reading buddies' to further the enjoyment of and interest in reading, not to mention the influence our older students can have over the success of the younger ones. The Los Marineros program teaches fifth graders about marine biology and also gives them the chance to clean up a local beach each year to help our marine environment. Students in every classroom participate in our school wide recycling program.