Homework Helpers Benefits Students and Tutors

Volunteers from St. John’s Episcopal Church have partnered with Banks-Caddell Elementary School to help students after school with their homework through a program suitably named Homework Helpers.

St. John’s, Village Faith Church, Rotary Club, and Christmas Tours of Old Decatur and Albany support the program. The funding provides teachers to oversee the program,snacks for the students, and transportation home for the children.

This is the third full year Homework Helpers has been operating at Banks-Caddell. The first year was an experimental six-week program.

A pool of 28 volunteers tutor students 3 afternoons each week beginning in September and ending in mid April. St. John’s volunteers include retirees, full-time employees, and high school students.

Principal Linda McLain says, “Students benefit from the partnership because they get extra help on their homework, even if it’s not complete they get a good start on it. Plus, they have mentors in the program and that’s good emotional support.”

Martha Freeman, St. John’s coordinator of the program says, “A little boy told me the best thing about this program is he doesn’t have to go to school worried about not having his homework. With this partnership students grades come up, skills come up. They have got to get to middle school believing they can handle the work load.”

The program is available to 25 children. The principal and teachers assess students and decide who is eligible for the program.

The mission of the Decatur City Schools Foundation is to enhance excellence in education for all students in Decatur City Schools. To learn more about Homework Helpers, contact the Decatur City Schools Foundation at (256) 616-1734.

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