GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- Sailors and students from Training Support Center (TSC) and Learning Sites, Great Lakes volunteered at John Milton Gregory School to tutor and mentor 4th and 5th graders Feb. 4.
Established in 1983, Saturday Scholars is a part of the Navy's Personal Excellence program and is the model for the Partnership Tutoring Program. This five-week program ends with a graduation for students who attended at least three-quarters of the sessions. Students receive a certificate of completion and Sailors provide words of encouragement.
"The Saturday Scholars program provides our newest Sailors the opportunity to perform some wonderful volunteer work for the Navy and help our Chicago community children improve in school; it's a great win/win program," said Master Chief Electronics Technician (SW/AW) Timothy D. Malak, command master chief for Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit (CSCSU) Great Lakes.
"For this one-on-one tutoring program, we volunteer roughly 3,000 man-hours each year of community service to make it work," Malak said.
CSCSU instructor Electronics Technician 1st Class (SW/SCW) Dennis G. Cope is in his first year as the Saturday Scholars Program manager. "We are able to help these students drastically improve their test scores and more important improve understanding," said Cope.
Statistics have shown that the children involved in the program have displayed a 15 to 30 percent improvement on their state test scores, placing Gregory School on the state's honor roll; all due to the support received from the Great Lakes volunteers.
Approximately 90 Navy volunteers from commands across Great Lakes participate with 40 to 50 students each season. This year, students at Gregory School receive assistance in the areas of reading, math and science.
"We really pump this up. The kids know they get a chance to be tutored by a Sailor if they come and they love it," said Gregory School teacher Cathy Wright. Along with Charlene Reynolds and retired volunteer Precious James, Wright is one of the school's program co-coordinators.
"The Sailors here are great role models, especially for the young men who get a chance to see the guys in uniform. The boys especially come out to for it."
The volunteers depart on Saturday morning and spend half an hour socializing with the kids in the cafeteria after arriving. Prior to starting the two-hour tutoring sessions the Sailors lead the school children in a motivational chant.
"We try to target the students who are struggling in the classroom... so we pull those students who can benefit from having the Sailors tutor them," Wright said.
"The students love it," said Cope. "They like the military, the uniform and ask a lot of questions about where we've been and what we do in the Navy."
"It's been pretty fun so far, I was nervous at first, but I've melded in and gotten used to it," said volunteer Seaman Josue Martinez. "My student has pretty much got it down; I've just needed to push him in the right direction!"
Cope said family members may also volunteer.
"I am very happy to be a part of this program," said Cope. "I have always enjoyed teaching/tutoring, and I think it is extremely important that our children in our community are taught everything to become well-rounded adults."
For information about Center for Training Support Center Great Lakes and Learning Sites, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/.
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