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Mission
• Our Tutors • Our
Supporters • Special Events
MEETING OF THE MINDS
HOMEWORK HELPER PROGRAM
old school
P.O. Box 11
Cherry Valley, New York 13320
607: 264-8052
artss1@hotmail.com |
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Mission
Meeting of the Minds is a volunteer after school homework helper program.
It was founded in April 2003 by Vanessa Saba, and it is designed to
tutor kids in academic subjects or simply help them with their homework.
We who volunteer for Meeting of the Minds feel since many kids are
going home to empty houses, they are not getting the help they need.
Our assistance helps with daily and long-term assignments and offers
remediation, if necessary, in basic skills such as reading, writing
and math. We help regular ed and special ed students, and everyone
benefits greatly from the one-on-one support we try to give. We are
targeting students in grades 4 through 8 and offering them free assistance
at least one night a week after school.
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Vanessa Saba and Meeting of the Minds students
receiving a presentation of school supplies from the Cherry
Valley-Springfield Teachers' Association Local Action Plan (LAP),
coordinator, Lori Shuster. |
Our
Tutors
The program is well chaperoned: community members, teachers, future
teachers and high school and college students are tutoring. The National
Honor Society, Math Honor Society and the high school course entitled
“Participation in Government” have community service components; each
of these groups has been invited to volunteer for Meeting of the Minds.
The older student tutors are good role models for the younger kids,
and the success that comes with accomplishing work helps with self-esteem.
For the tutors planning on getting an education degree, this program
gives them a chance for some hands-on experience.
Meeting of the Minds founder and director,
Vanessa Saba, with a student receiving a large donation from
the Cherry Valley- Springfield teacher's Local Action Plan Committee.
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Our
Supporters |
| There is great support
for this after school program. Community businesses donated
computers for student use. The LEAF Council on Alcoholism and
Addiction donated computer software, and Leatherstocking's Promise
awarded a Teen Solutions Mini Grant to purchase reading books.
Overwhelming support has also come from the Cherry Valley-Springfield
Teachers’ Association, which immediately embraced the idea.
The teachers volunteer on a rotating basis and have also donated
a large variety of supplies to help students; the LAP (Local
Action Plan) committee has been instrumental in initiating this
successful supply drive. |
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why after-school programs are important *
• All children deserve a safe,
stimulating environment after school.
• More than 28 million children have parents who work outside
the home.
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Afterschool programs help keep kids safe, help working families
and provide important opportunities to learn.
• Today 14.3 million children have no place to go after school.
Budget cuts are closing many existing afterschool programs.
• Latchkey children are more likely to be victims of crime
or are likely to participate in risky behaviors.
• Children in afterschol programs have improved grades, behavior
and school attendance. * information provided by the Afterschool
Alliance
How you can
get free fun and homework help:
When: Every
Wednesday- right after school until 4:15.
Where: At
the Old School Café, down the driveway from the post office. With
parent permission slips, CV-S buses will take the students to the
Old School.
Chaperons will be waiting.
How: Call
607: 264-8052
e-mail: artss1@hotmail.com
We have a lot
of help, and we are helping a lot of kids!
Special
Events: save the date •October
14, 2004 • LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL ! |
Meeting of the Minds
will join over 6,000 events across
America in the 5th annual celebration of
LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL! |
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Country Representative and President of the
Cherry Valley Community Facilities Corporation, Sam Dubben,
at our Lights On! Celebration, urging support for after-school
programs. |
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JOIN US AT THE OLD SCHOOL CAFÉ FROM
3-4:30 FOR
REFRESHMENTS, RAFFLES, SPEAKERS AND ACTIVITIES |
| Vanessa Saba, students and teachers gathering
for refreshments at our Lights On! rally to support after school
programs. |
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