High School Volunteers Making a Difference at Tyee Park Elementary

Olga Prado receives Outstanding Volunteer Certificate from Mrs. Simpson (left)

Tyee Park Elementary School staff, Communities In Schools of Lakewood (CISL) and Clover Park High School student volunteers formed a winning combination this school year in one of the nine after-school programs coordinated by CISL.

Tyee Park’s Extended Day Learning Opportunity Program involves four staff members and five student volunteers. The volunteers were recruited and trained in the vision and goals of the program curriculum by CISL and Tyee Park staff.

The expectation is for Tyee Park students to become lifelong learners and be afforded additional opportunities to learn and grow academically and socially in their extended day program. Tyee Park staff said, “We are fortunate that our student volunteers have multiple strengths in mathematics. We appreciate the care and concern they show with our extended day students. Mentorship and peer tutoring have been key components to our program being successful.”

CPHS students Jassiel Huriado and Olga Prado modeled and explained mathematical algorithms to Tyee Park students in terms they understood. Jassiel’s peer tutoring strength manifested in how we demonstrated varying mnemonic devices to assist in completing his own math assignments. Tyee Park students have formed a bond with Jassiel and see him as an older brother who really cares about them. Olga’s peer tutoring strengths ranged from being a “nurturer” with small groups of students to relaying mathematical scenarios in Spanish to bilingual students.

CPHS students Jennifer Huertas and Zhirsty Laulu’s supportive roles were prevalent during Tyee Park’s daily Read and Respond time. They encouraged students to focus while reading and motivated them to share or perform “retells” at the conclusion of Sustained Silent Reading sessions. Jennifer and Zhirsty’s mathematical talents were focal points during several whole group instructional times. They are personable with students and expressed genuine concern by letting students know they would help them with other subjects as well.

Another CPHS student, ASM Tuhin, is also a positive contributor, especially with his mathematical expertise in problem solving utilizing Sherlock Problem Solving practices. ASM works well with the whole group, with small groups or simply with one-on-one tutoring. He is an exchange student and his cultural diversity was a definite asset. His wealth of knowledge due to his travel experiences opened up a world of learning possibilities for staff and students.

These successful teens are role models and help younger students stay in school and succeed. Tyee Park’s and CISL’s partnership is one of many examples of teens in Lakewood being actively engaged and giving back to their community.

-Ms. Cariccia Simpson (Tyee Park) and Dave O’Keeffe (CISL)