After-School Homework Assistance and Tutorial Program

 

The Druid Heights After-School Homsummercamp1ework Assistance and Tutorial program will operate Monday through Thursday afternoons from 2:30 pm until 5:00 pm at the Druid Heights Community Center located at 2410 McCulloh Street in Baltimore, Maryland.

Our mission is to cause, encourage and promote community self-empowerment through the development of economic, educational, employment and affordable housing opportunities. We place an emphasis on our youth development programs.

The After School Homework Assistance and Tutorial program starts two weeks after the opening of schools and remains open until the closing of all schools.

We have successfully recruited 28 students for the after school program from the six week summer camp program we provided to the community this year. The summer camp focused on learning during the summer break from school and keeping children actively involved with reading and math exercises.

The purpose of the After School Homework Assistance and Tutorial program is to provide a safe, drug free environment for children in the community to gather for focus, study and fun.

Daily Agenda

2:30 until 5:00 pm

Students                                                                                             Volunteers / Tutors

 

  • Sign In                                                                                         Sign In
  • Supper                                                                                         Work Station
  • Report to Group                                                                         Monitor & Mentor
  • Homework      / Study Time                                                   Homework Assistance
  • Homework approval                                                                Homework Approval
  • Activity based on area of concern                                        Provide tutorial
  • Group Fun                                                                                   Group Fun
  • Departure                                                                                    Debrief

 

The program will operate Monday through Thursday. Some Fridays will be reserved for fun or field trips in the afternoon. The daily schedule begins with providing supper to the students upon arrival. The meals are prepared and delivered each day from the Maryland Food Bank. After supper, students will go to their grade group to complete their homework. The program will serve students in grades 1st through 9th. High school students are encouraged to volunteer and complete their community service learning hours and study in the reserved computer room at the center. All volunteers agreed to background checks to ensure the safety of all children. Parents will also support the fundraising efforts for the program.

Tutors will be at every station to assist with the home assignments. All tutors will go through a brief training program to understand the core principles of mentoring, safety, rules and regulations. This volunteer based program accepts applications from interested adults who are willing to give their time and support. All children are monitored in a big group session at all times.

The program will include supper, snacks, academic games, tutorials, mentoring, a Reading Club, a chess club, a nutrition club, a poetry club, an art club and a foreign language component.

The Druid Heights community is located two miles northwest of downtown Baltimore in zip code 21217 of the 44th Legislative District, within Census Tract 1403. Using the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance’s (BNIA) Vital Sign neighborhoods map, as a resource, Druid Heights is located at Area 53. According to the BNAI, Area 53 consists of approximately 10,404 people, of which 51% are female and 49% are males, with a median age of 35.4. The population consists of 95% African Americans, 2% Caucasian, 1.5 % Hispanic, 1% are of mixed race and .5% are Korean. The average household income is $14,487 with 69% earning $0 –$ 25,000 annually.

Because of the community’s limited number of indigenous homeowners, business ownership, fully employed heads of households, over 90% of all crimes are characteristic of a poor community – illegal drug activity, burglaries, youth violence, domestic violence and theft. The juvenile arrest rate, although declining, is still high compared to the overall statistics for the city. The area’s juvenile crime rate stands at 229 arrests per every 1,000 youth compared to the City’s 140.

Crime and drug activity in the Druid Heights community is high. Most parents are at work when children return home from school. This is a critical time in the day when children need supervision and academic support. The after school program will keep them out of the street and away from trouble. The after school program will identify the needs of families and provide resources and assistance from program offered at the community center. Families will access to a myriad of services.

Staff from the program and designated volunteers will visit the schools of the participants on a bi-weekly basis or as necessary to determine the progress of our students.

Report cards will be collected from all parents and the staff will hold a “Report Card Day” celebration. A core principle is to celebrate all progress for each student. We believe in positive reinforcement and will apply it on the daily basis. A cart will be posted with the name of each participant where award points can be added for successes throughout the school year. All awards, certificates and good Progress Reports will earn students are point on the board. The points can also be awarded for participation and good behavior.

In the after school program children are encouraged to read books, practice good grammar and do math exercises while learning and having fun. The program will serve three major goals for the community:

 

1. Providing a safe, drug free environment where children are excited to come learn and play

2. To reinforce reading and math skills during the homework time in order to prevent children from falling behind while reinforcing academic achievements.

3. To support struggling families by giving their children education, mentorship and hope for a better future.

 

Our Anticipated results and outcomes are:

 

  1. Youth will be inspired to have a 90% attendance record at school; the current attendance rate for middle school and high school students is below 50%.
  2. Youth’s grades will be brought above a satisfactory level as to ensure passing to the grade level.
  3. Youth will learn the virtues and values of respect and tolerance for cultures and traditions that are not their own.
  4. Youth will learn conflict resolution and that violence will not resolve tension.
  5. Youth will learn literacy building skills, grammar and English through practical application, practice and repetition.
  6. Youth will learn mathematics and principles of monetary value through practical application, practice and repetition.
  7. Youth will be encouraged and promoted in hopes that 25% of the students will make the Honor Roll.

 

Volunteerism

Many community residents and volunteers from around the City are looking for ways to give back.  This program will offer an opportunity for people to come in and assist the children in the community. All volunteers will be subject to a background check and will work under the direction of the Office of Community Resources. Mr. Tavon Benson, Community Organizer is the direct contact for the program. Mr. Anthony Pressley, Director of Community Resources is the general overseer of the program. All reporting is to Mr. Kelly D. Little, the Executive Director. The program will recognize the volunteers on a quarterly basis and award gifts donated by Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Parental Involvement

Each parent will be requested to sign an application for volunteering. The program hopes to have the full support of the parents and to serve as the liaison between the student, school and family. “It takes a village to raise a child”. The community is that village of resources, support and strength. We believe it is critical to have the parents’ support as we give the extra attention needed for each student.

Mentoring

Many young people say that adults are not consistent. We will work to provide the consistency young people desire. Volunteers, who pass the background check and are willing to participate, will be asked to mentor a youth. The goal is to have a one on one professional mentor for all students above the 5th grade. We have solicited the support of area universities and colleges to recruit students who wish to tutor and mentor in our program.

School Supplies

The program will work to keep school supplies for children throughout the school year. Many children are not properly equipped for learning and advancing. We will seek donations from area foundations and businesses.

Program Resources

The program will use the Verizon Foundation’s Thinkfinity system for extra- curricular activities. This online resource provides technical support for after school programs. After we discover the area of concern for each student, “academic weakness” we will designate a portion of the program’s time to tutor in that area. The Thinkfinity model is very effective.

The program will focus on what the teacher is teaching the children and what the children should know at their grade level.

Academic games will be used in order for children to learn while having fun. The program will also take suggestions from the participants.

Incentives

The After School program will provide incentives to children. This will include gift cards to the movies and area businesses, books and prizes.

 

Needs

School Supplies                                  $2,200

Learning Materials                           $1,500

Incentives / Awards                         $2,000

Snacks                                                   $ 500

Fun Fridays                                         $2,000

Total                                                    $8,200