Lunch and Learning peer-to-peer tutoring is now available in student services. National Honors Society (NHS) members and other tutors are available during all lunches to help students in need.
“When I took over the National Honor Society years ago, it was just recognition of people that have attained a certain GPA and developed a certain level of character,” counselor Barrett Kashdan said “They would also be required to do community service and many people didn’t really have a lot of ideas of what they could do as they’d always ask, well, ‘What could we be doing?’ And then it dawned on me. You’ve achieved a certain level of academic performance in the school, you’ve gained recognition by earning a position like National Honors Society, and well now, maybe you can help other people.”
Originally the career center was empty during lunch time. And soon enough, the concept of Lunch and Learning was born. “It doesn’t get populated. And I thought we could put this [the career center] to better use,” Kashdan said.
It’s simple. If a student needs help in a course, he or she has the opportunity to go to the career center during their lunch and attain help from a tutor.
“There would be tutors here, eating lunch, but they will be waiting here available to help,” Kashdan said.
But it doesn’t stop there. If a student needs more help he or she can ask to meet after school at a place convenient to both students for more help.
“If someone comes to me or their counselors, and says, ‘I’m having a problem with a particular class’ then the counselor can locate one of the tutors, [to find out] if you prefer male or female, then introduce them, and those two students can make their own arrangements on where they are going to meet to help each other out,” Kashdan said.
Tutoring positions are open to anyone who wants to help.
“The National Honor Society student earns two hours of community service for every hour they help somebody. If you wanted to be a tutor and if you were in any honor society you can sign up to become a tutor. And point of fact, you don’t have to be in any honor society. You know, there are some very bright kids who aren’t in any honor society, and if they have a desire to help other people they just talk with me. And I can put them on a tutor list. Everybody can benefit from tutoring,” Kashdan said.
The career center is also available to students would like to work independently.
“For juniors and seniors it’s an excellent place because you can do college searches if you wanted. For anyone else we have all these computers available. Students come in to do homework. They didn’t necessarily need anyone to help them; they just needed a place to come. There are some students that don’t want to be in a cafeteria period, and I don’t blame them,” Kashdan said.
