Friday, February 26, 2010
Elizabeth Griswold
Staff Writer
Mira Costa is noted for its excellence, showing off its impressive test scores. It also provides intriguing extracurricular activities such a Drama Department, choir and sports programs, the likes of which cannot be rivaled by other schools.
And for several years, Mira Costa has gone above and beyond, proving its interest in the success of all its students by hosting a peer tutoring program in the Costa library.
This program, overseen by Mira Costa English teachers Alan Zeoli and Michael McAvin and sponsored by the PTSA, consists of students who sign in after school to teach others or learn from tutors of all grade levels.
“I think this program is very, very important because a lot of students enjoy and value having a quiet, safe place to do their work. Besides which, it helps the school,” Zeoli said.
Mondays through Thursdays after school, students can sit in the library anywhere between 3 and 5 p.m. with all sorts of resources such as books, tutors, teachers, the internet and a plethora of technological doodads. In addition to this, this program is unlike most regular tutoring programs, in that it gives students more free reign to work as they please.
“The students can work without someone hovering over their heads. And then if they encounter a problem, they can go to a tutor to learn a new way to overcome the obstacle and then get back to work,” Zeoli said.
If students are not being tutored, they can still do their homework on campus after school.
“Sometimes we have to wait after school for parents, and we need that peace and serenity,” junior Chris Alegria said.
While those who want tutoring obviously benefit, the student tutors also benefit. They receive community service credit for every hour spent tutoring.
“I like it because we get community service for helping kids, and it looks good for college,” junior Noah Dates said.
At the start of the year, few students came to the program.
“The amount of people that I am seeing in after-school tutoring is increasing,” senior Brian Humbarger said.
There are similar stories among the other students in the library participating in the program. Since then, however, daily attendence has increased to approximately 40 students.
While they could take part in the library peer tutoring program, recieving free homework assistance while helping classmates earn community service, many pay for private tutors instead.
Nevertheless, students continue to come to the tutoring program. The availability of one-on-one attention provides students with the tools needed to learn the material.
“I’m here to earn my community service hours and out of the goodness of my heart. It’s definitely a valuable program,” senior Chijioke Aranotu said.
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