ONTARIO — A group of Ontario High School students offer their classmates extra help with their classes via the peer tutoring program.
Created in 2013, the program aids students who would like additional academic assistance.
Tutors are either members of National Honor Society or those who excel in any given subject matter and wish to be of service to others.
Intervention Specialist Amy Kroll, co-organizer of the program with Guidance Counselor Don Strine, described the program as a “win-win,” noting that it not only benefits those seeking assistance, but also the tutors who earn community service hours.
“A lot of kids struggle with homework and tests and so they need someone besides the teacher to help them out because sometimes the teacher doesn’t always get through,” said fourth-year tutor Rohan Joshi.
Some of the 17 tutors have helped elementary school students and others have held sessions during study hall to accommodate the tutees’ schedule.
Each tutor had to include the signature of three school personnel references in their application.
Tutors must maintain a 3.0 GPA and keep information concerning tutored students strictly confidential.
Peer tutoring is held prior to the start of school from 7:20 to 7:40 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Kroll’s classroom.
Megan McVicker, who’s in her fourth year as a tutor, said she doesn’t mind going into school early.
“I like to come because if nobody’s here to tutor I can get my homework done or study,” she said.
Joshi said it’s rewarding to hear from those he’s helped.
“Students have come to me and said, ‘I did well on that quiz and normally I wouldn’t have.’ So that always feels good to know that you helped them out,” he said.
The tutoring sessions also give the tutors a chance to revisit some of the lessons they’ve learned.
“It’s helpful to revisit skills of past classes,” said fourth-year tutor Calvin Baumann.
