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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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The buddy system

D158 seeks volunteer tutors

By Christine Such

Eileen Delahanty, Volunteer Coordinator District 158 is working to get some Del Webb residents to make the short trip to Leggee Elementary School.

Delahanty is working with Sarah DuBose, Leggee Kindergarten Teacher and a member of the Real-World Application Committee. Dubose said, “We want to tie in with the outside world with us. We want to have ‘Buddies’ within our school.”

Dubose explained that this imitative “is part of our Vision Statement for our school.”

D158 Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Delahanty (left) and Leggee Kindergarten Teacher Sarah DuBose are seeking Sun City residents to become volunteer tutors to help enrich students’ learning experiences. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

D158 Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Delahanty (left) and Leggee Kindergarten Teacher Sarah DuBose are seeking Sun City residents to become volunteer tutors to help enrich students’ learning experiences. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)

Their goal, Dubose said, was to work with “adults to tutor or work with small kids, to give them some enrichment.”

Delahanty feels that there are “Plenty of retired teachers in Del Webb who would add so much to a child’s life. You can take the teacher out of the classroom but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher.”

DuBose added, “We don’t just need adults with an educational background. Anyone with patience, enthusiasm, and willingness to help is needed and welcomed.”

“We have an adult starting next week. We are rolling out the program slowly. We have an orientation planned and will be there to walk anyone through the program,” said Delahanty.

All training is provided by staff members.

“The senior can choose what they want to do, read, tutor math, or be a buddy,” said Delahanty.

Their math program is in its second year.

“The math is so different from what we had as students. But there are more tools. There are games, flash cards,” said Delahanty.

Delahanty emphasized that, “No one will be teaching. We just need reinforcement of the material. It can be one on one or a small group. We will be accommodating.”

There are some volunteers currently at the school. One woman helps every week in the literacy program. She has been doing this for 17 years.

Dubose said, ”Pretty amazing what a difference a volunteer makes and the reward of seeing a child jump a couple of reading levels.”

Delahanty wants the Del Webb Community to know, “We don’t turn away snowbirds. We will do our best to work around your schedule. We need both men and women. We have more women volunteering than men. The students get a kick of seeing male role model since this is not a common occurrence.”

In the class, during the interview, we all sat on different “chairs.”

Dubose explained, “We have flex seating. We allow the students to move and be comfortable. I do my best work sitting on a bed, not at a desk. If you are comfortable you will do your best.”

Delahanty confirmed, “Our volunteers won’t be sitting on flex seating.”

To apply, contact Eileen Delahanty at 847-659-6152 or edelahanty@district158.org.





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