Whiz Kids at Foothills Elementary
Our Foothills Elementary (located on Green Mountain near Alameda and West Ohio Ave) is in need of more tutors for the after school WHIZ KIDS program.
What is it? WHIZ KIDS began in 1990 through the collaborative efforts of church, community, school and business leaders in Denver. Their desire was to bring resources into neighborhoods where there was a need to bridge the achievement gap. WHIZ KIDS began a city-wide outreach by partnering suburban and urban churches with urban schools. This partnership led to one-on-one tutoring with elementary-age children. The result was a program called "Wise Guys," with three locations and 60 kids. |
Eventually, the name was changed to WHIZ KIDS Tutoring and today, WHIZ KIDS is a 501 (c)3 non-profit with over 50 sites that serve more than 800 elementary and middle school students throughout the metro area. Our goal is to reach 1,000 kids annually by 2020.
Mission statement:
To reach children who fall below the literacy line and poverty line.
To serve them in the Spirit of Christ and to ensure that no child misses the grace of God.
At our Foothills Elementary, the kids are from 1st grade to 6th. It happens on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:30. Usually about an hour or less of preparation a week beforehand gets you ready. Its a "faith based" group. So there's usually a biblical parable and quick prayer at the end at what they call "Club Time". Its optional if the parents want to opt out their child, although I don't know that any did. I'm not very religious and was skeptical at first but got to admit I was won over because the "Christian" stuff was not heavy handed and overall I believe in the value to the kids. If the church is the only one doing it and it works for the kids then it seems right to me.
The main emphasis is usually reading and math. They have lots of learning resources and help with lessons. Books, exercise materials and learning games are all provided for the appropriate grade levels. You may chose either Tuesday or Thursday. That would be one day a week from about first week in October to second week in April. The days off are the same as the Jeffco Schools schedule. There are a couple of special events like a Sunday night at a Nuggets game and the Kids Rodeo at the Western Stock Show Arena.
If you like kids, like to see them smile and would like to help in a small but meaningful way to give them a boost in school and social achievement then WHIZ KIDS should be for you.
Check out the program at: http://www.whizkidstutoring.com/ .
We are always in need of more volunteers! You would help a child one-on-one with prepared lessons in reading, writing and math Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:30. Please contact Linda Rickstrew at 303-204-3263 or Diane Rhodus at 303-986-9400
Mission statement:
To reach children who fall below the literacy line and poverty line.
To serve them in the Spirit of Christ and to ensure that no child misses the grace of God.
At our Foothills Elementary, the kids are from 1st grade to 6th. It happens on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:30. Usually about an hour or less of preparation a week beforehand gets you ready. Its a "faith based" group. So there's usually a biblical parable and quick prayer at the end at what they call "Club Time". Its optional if the parents want to opt out their child, although I don't know that any did. I'm not very religious and was skeptical at first but got to admit I was won over because the "Christian" stuff was not heavy handed and overall I believe in the value to the kids. If the church is the only one doing it and it works for the kids then it seems right to me.
The main emphasis is usually reading and math. They have lots of learning resources and help with lessons. Books, exercise materials and learning games are all provided for the appropriate grade levels. You may chose either Tuesday or Thursday. That would be one day a week from about first week in October to second week in April. The days off are the same as the Jeffco Schools schedule. There are a couple of special events like a Sunday night at a Nuggets game and the Kids Rodeo at the Western Stock Show Arena.
If you like kids, like to see them smile and would like to help in a small but meaningful way to give them a boost in school and social achievement then WHIZ KIDS should be for you.
Check out the program at: http://www.whizkidstutoring.com/ .
We are always in need of more volunteers! You would help a child one-on-one with prepared lessons in reading, writing and math Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons from 3:45 to 5:30. Please contact Linda Rickstrew at 303-204-3263 or Diane Rhodus at 303-986-9400
Published here 8-25-2015