Burien Community Church held its first After-School Tutoring Program from Feb. 20 – April 21, funded by a grant through the American Baptist Churches.
The Matthew 25 grant was given to use for supplies and food for a new after school program. Partnering with Gregory Heights Elementary, nine students applied and participated in the program every Tuesday afternoon. Students received a snack, personal reading time with their tutor, and help with homework and study skills, especially multiplication tables. Following reading and homework, students had the opportunity to play learning games with each other and their tutors, and the program concluded with dinner for them and their families. The volunteer tutors came from the church membership and the community at large. The program was strictly academic, and all students experienced improvement in their homework and study skills as well as growth in their ambition and confidence.
“We really enjoyed having the students and partnering with our neighborhood school,” Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, pastor of Burien Community Church and the Program Coordinator for the After-School Program said. “I think the most important thing we learned is that we don’t need to be trained teachers to help a child learn, all it takes is our willingness to be there and to listen.”
When asked if they enjoyed the program and if they learned anything new during the After-School program commencement, students enthusiastically shouted “Yes!”
Burien Community Church hopes to continue the tutoring program this fall with Gregory Heights Elementary School, starting in October.
For more information, visit www.buriencommunitychurch.org and visit their Facebook page.