After-school tutoring program growing
Washington School Board on Monday approved hiring substitute teachers to assist with the Washington Park School’s family center program.
The tutoring program is offered at the elementary school four days a week until 5:30 p.m.
Principal Kelley Zebrasky told school board directors the program has grown enormously, and that more than 160 students attend after-school tutoring.
“I’ve been around here for 25 years, and this is by far the most participation I’ve had in after-school tutoring,” she said.
She attributes growth to several factors, including increased expectations of what students are expected to know at the elementary school level and the collaboration between the students’ classroom teachers and the tutors at the Family Center to make sure the homework needs of students are being met.
Zebrasky estimates more than 10 Washington Park School teachers participate in the after-school tutoring program, and substitute teachers are needed whenever those teachers cannot attend.
Children in grades 1-3 attend tutoring Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., while students in grades 4-6 attend a half-hour longer, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Zebrasky said the after-school tutoring also provides support for parents because it ensures children are completing homework assignments and getting academic support during hours when some of those parents might still be at work.
“It’s all of us working together, parents, teachers, the kids and stakeholders in the district, to increase our kids’ academic success,” Zebrasky said. “We’re preparing kids to apply the skills they need to know to be successful in this world.”
Tutoring is offered in math and language arts, and homework help is available.
Some of the students in grades 1-3 also participate in the Starfish Program, a collaborative program with the Allegheny County YMCA designed to increase academic skills.
“It’s an interactive program where students apply what they’ve learned through games,” Zebrasky said.