AHA Tutoring Sessions of 2008
at University Place Elementary School
November - December  2008

AHA's tutoring program, coordinated by Ralph Massey and Carmen Gonzalez, has started up again, this time at University Place Elementary School in Huntsville.  Previous programs were held for several years at Butler High School and for two years in Decatur.  The drop-out rate for Hispanics at the high school level is clear and appalling.  AHA plans to intervene this year with the younger children to provide English tutoring and mentoring with the intent of helping these Hispanics perform well academically and stay in school until graduation. 

AHA, partnering with University Place Elementary School, held it's first tutoring session of the 2008 school year.  Students covered all grades K-5.

  

Board of Directors:
President: Hilda Mary Eisler
Vice-President: Maria Taylor
Treasurer: Renee Ryan
Secretary: Flora Santor
Board Members at Large:
Kirsis Torres
Alex Roman

The Tutoring and Mentoring Committee is headed by Ralph Massey and Carmen Gonzalez who are pictured here involved in the tutoring process. AHA members Norma Reeves, Reneé Ryan and Marjorie Palmer are also participating in the tutoring program.  They worked with University Place School Principal Ms. Davis and two of her staff members, ESL and ELL teachers, to develop an after-school program for about 13 Hispanic students who have academic needs.  They envision this program at University Place School to be a 2-day-a week effort. 

The program involves helping students learn English as an adjunct effort to the formal ESL and ELL programs which are already in place at the school.  Tutoring also extends to math and helping students with their homework.  If you would like to be involved with this extremely important program, please contact  AHA.  The more volunteer tutors who participate, the more students can be helped.  This program goes to the very essence of what AHA is all about.  Make some time to participate in the program -- you will be enriched by it.

If you would like to help us with this very worthwhile program starting in January of next year, please call me at 679-3268 or call Carmen at 652-0402.

 Report on tutoring program Dec 11, 2008 from Ralph and Carmen

We have had 8 tutoring sessions at the school this year.  The number of participants has grown from the original 8 and is now 16.  We are building trust with the students and they are making progress in their reading and math, as we thought they would.

We will not have any tutoring sessions next week, the last week of this semester.  We also will not have any sessions the first week of next semester.

We are planning to resume on Tuesday, January 13, 2009.  The sessions will still be from 2:30-4:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Today I was listening as a First grader was reading the words in English at the top of a page.  I was then reading the words in Spanish at the bottom of a page.  After two or three pages, he looked at me and said , "You need help."   You obviously do not have to be bi-lingual to help with this program !  Happy Holidays to all.
Ralph  for Ralph and Carmen

Alabama Hispanic Association - A nonprofit organization since 2002.  For comments or questions contact AHA. 
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