This year’s Fair Grove seniors have been working with middle school and elementary classes in relations with the A+ Program. The members of this program work to help tutor kids and aid teachers throughout the day.
The A+ Program has been at Fair Grove for many years. It acts as a good support system for both young kids in classrooms, and seniors who are about to graduate. Kids are able to learn from and get to know older kids who have already been through the years of school while seniors are able to secure funds to pay for college.
Of course helping in the classroom is the main purpose of the program’s existence. One teacher who has benefited from the use of A+ tutors is the Fair Grove band teacher, Natalie Palomo. Palomo explained, “I know in the band world, having my younger band kids get help from older band kids is awesome. It allows students to connect with older kids who won’t be in band with them but who were once where they are.”
Letting younger kids be able to see how seniors behave at school is not only helpful to them, but it also gives them a role model to look up to according to Palomo. “It’s a nice way for them to look at what they could be, if they put in the work themselves,” added Palomo.
Many seniors in the A+ Program love to see the impacts that they have on middle school and elementary students. Brigid Woods (12) is the current A+ tutor for Mrs.Wiertzema’s 1st grade class. Woods said, “I think for the seniors who actually choose to get involved and help the kids to the best of their abilities it is an awesome chance for these kids to build a relationship with them…”
As an A+ tutor, Woods enjoys getting to know the kids that she works with and spending time helping them learn. Woods stated, “… one of my favorite parts of being an A+ student is just knowing that I have made an impact on these kids and that everyday I walk into that classroom, they look forward to seeing me just as much as I enjoy seeing them.”
Liam Draper (12) is another senior who enjoys making a difference in the lives of young kids. Draper explained, “…the A+ Program has a major impact on the younger students in the elementary school, working with kindergarten I feel like I am able to help them learn how to share and get along with others along with teaching them to read and write.”
Seniors in the program are not only able to spend time with and prepare the future students of Fair Grove High School, but are able to prepare for their own future as well. Through the A+ Program, seniors are able to get a free two year education at any two year college in the area. Even if graduating seniors plan on attending a different college such as a four year, they can still earn $2,000 for their education at the school of their choice.
Woods is very appreciative of the opportunity that the A+ Program offers. Woods noted, “For the students at Fair Grove we are given a pretty easy chance to earn money for college… to some it may not seem like much, but for those students who can’t pay for college it is an amazing opportunity to get started in a career or even get a career with only two years at OTC.”
The A+ Program has been a significant help to both young middle school and elementary students as well as high school seniors for years and will continue to strive for a greater education at Fair Grove.
