Monday, July 14, 2014

New tutor program at island church helps Hispanic students | Education | The Island Packet

New tutor program at island church helps Hispanic students | Education | The Island Packet: Unlike most 9-year-olds, Max Alvarez can't wait to return to school this fall.

The rising fourth-grader wants his classmates and teachers to see all he has learned since school ended in June. His favorite new skill: multiplication.

"I felt like there were a lot of things I didn't know from third grade," he said. "But now I've learned them, and I feel ready for fourth grade and want to show everyone."

For the past several weeks, Alvarez has attended tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island. The sessions are part of the new Holy Family Bridge Project, which began this summer to serve local Hispanic students.

More than 50 students between kindergarten and fifth grade attend the tutoring -- all for free, according to program director Leigh Bacevich. Eighteen local high school students volunteer three hours each session to help the students with reading and math.