Submitted by the Lake Washington School District
With first semester behind them, students in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) are settling into their second term. While some kids are celebrating their report cards, others may be wondering how they can improve their study skills in order to improve their grades. Some students may want to do better second semester, but need additional support to reach that goal. Students may be struggling with math, biology or reading while others might need help with learning English. That’s where LINKS (Looking into the Needs of Kids and Schools) volunteers come in.
Volunteer requests from staff range from working with small groups of kids on math to being an academic mentor to a struggling student. In both cases, students show improvement more quickly when they receive additional support. Classroom volunteers help teachers by working with students who may be have a hard time solving a math problem or have trouble understanding what they are reading. Volunteers offer students support by helping them focus and encouraging them to work toward personal success.
Middle schools and high schools throughout LWSD have implemented lunchtime and after-school study programs. Many students voluntarily meet with an academic mentor or tutor to receive extra help with math, science or English homework. Academic mentors meet with the same student one or two days a week to provide added support and encouragement. Students who participated in this program first semester showed noticeable improvement and felt more confident about their ability to do well in school. They proved to themselves they can achieve better grades with the added support of a volunteer.
Additional volunteers are needed throughout Redmond, Kirkland and Sammamish to help meet the growing number of volunteer requests from schools. Currently, LINKS has 45 requests for volunteers in all grade levels. Elementary school needs include classroom help, academic mentors and lunch buddies. Middle and high schools need volunteers to tutor during lunch and in after-school study programs. Many students are willing to stay after school to receive additional support with one or more subjects. As a volunteer, sharing just one hour of your time each week can have a significant impact on a student’s overall experience at school.
To learn more about LINKS volunteer opportunities, visit the LINKS website at www.lwsd.org/links. To register for an upcoming volunteer orientation, email Nanci Wehr at nwehr@lwsd.org or call (425) 936-1410.
