I am helping 7-year-old Maria with math homework – she struggles with the English instructions and I assume she may not get much help at home because her parents are busy or lack English proficiency.

“How old are you,” she asks me.

“I’m 73.” I try to say it in Spanish but mess up and she corrects me.

“Thanks,” I say.

“You’re old,” she opines

“Yes I am.”

Then it is back to the addition and subtraction problems. I think, “This is fun.”

We gather in the Park Orchard School library for Homework Club. Mr. Steven Mattioli,

educational assistant, out of desperation for finding volunteers has recruited a 6th-grade student.

She, Mattioli, and I are there with the six kids who come for help today. The kids are mostly

English language learners, which makes it tough when they work on story math problems.

Homework club happens on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Park Orchard Elementary School students represent 27 foreign language groups and 32 different countries—one of the most diverse student bodies in the area.

Areas of Need

Originally, when I was recruited by principle Christine Castillo to be a volunteer recruiter, she and Mattioli listed the following areas of need for her school kids:

1. Academic assistance – the greatest need currently,

2. Leadership development,

3. Motivation and incentive programs,

4. Inter-cultural connections,

5. Parent support

6. Books for recognition gifts.

Volunteers Needed

Got an Hour a Week?

These areas reflect the need for both academic assistance and social and cultural enrichment, not only for staff and students but for parents as well. And these are areas not covered by budget or staff assignments. The teachers struggle to keep ahead and I have seen, Mr. Mattioli nearly sweating as he rushes to cover after school duties. So, we need volunteers to take on these tasks.

Kent’s Project U(th) is getting involved in developing after school activities for enrichment. A few other adults have come forward to help, but we need more people to volunteer. Basically the process is pretty simple – call the recruiter (me) and get background screened – then get your assignment based on you time and interest and the needs of the program.

Contact Jim Teeters at jim.ata@comcast.net.