Boosters Support ACHIEVE

The following is a reprint of an article from the "News Record" dated October 28, 2004.

Booster Club helps with tutoring program

    With one generous contribution, the Columbia High School Cougar Booster Club helped high school students make a contribution to the community by supporting their volunteer efforts to help younger students improve academically.

    Last year, the Boosters provided funding to the ACHIEVE Volunteer Tutor Program. Learning materials were purchased to be used by Columbia High School students in their work as ACHIEVE tutors in elementary and middle schools after school and on Saturdays. Housed in handsome, sturdy crates, the supplies purchased by the Boosters include not only crayons, scissors, markers and index cards, but also calculators, dictionaries, magnetic dry-erase boards, flash cards, math manipulatives and, of course, reading books.

    Each school received a crate that is kept on hand by the teacher who supervises ACHIEVE tutoring after school. "The tutors stay for a whole hour to help their younger charges," said Deborah Prinz, coordinator of the ACHIEVE Tutor Program. "These supplies make it possible for the tutors to do more with the children than just that day's assignment." 

    The Cougar Booster Club, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was formed in 1974 to support extracurricular activities at Columbia High School by providing funds for athletics, clubs and a multitude of Columbia High School organizations and activities to help students engage in a wide variety of pursuits. 

    "As past president of the Cougar Boosters, I know how pleased we were to be able to support this group of high school students working for ACHIEVE," said Risa Olinsky. "It's always gratifying to hear about high school students who volunteer their time after school to help younger students improve." 

    The ACHIEVE Volunteer Tutor Program, funded by the South Orange-Maplewood Education Foundation and the school district, recruits, trains and places volunteers, adults and teens, to work, on a weekly basis, with students who have been referred for extra help by their teachers. Last year, more than 100 high school students served as tutors in all eight elementary and middle schools. 

    Ms. Deborah Prinz, coordinator of the ACHIEVE program, noted that teachers of the tutored students have commented that the high school students bring a special quality to the tutoring experience. Having recently mastered the work covered in the younger students' assignments, their approach is natural and spirited. 

    None of this would be possible without the involvement of the teachers who remain after school to supervise the tutoring," said Prinz. "The teachers do receive extra compensation for their services, but having these teachers in the program is well worth the cost. Their knowledge of the curriculum and familiarity with the students greatly increases the effectiveness of the tutoring." 

    Kim Dippel, a Tuscan Elementary School teacher, is one of those educators who chooses to help with this program. "The ACHIEVE program is wonderful," Dippel said. "The younger students really look up to the high school students who serve as excellent role models." 

    High school students or adults who wish to participate in ACHIEVE should contact Deborah Prinz at 973-762-5600x1851 or dprinz@somsd.kl2.nj.us.