Community Service

"Rotary Club Tutoring Program" 

Garfield Charter School is a preschool-thru-8th grade school located in the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area of San Mateo County. There are approximately 700 students.  Most Garfield students live within the attendance area of an unincorporated part of Menlo Park.  89% of the students qualify for federal free or reduced lunch, and 94% have a primary language other than English. Garfield’s student population is predominantly Latino (95%).

For the past ten years, The Rotary Club of Menlo Park has tutored third and fourth grade students at Garfield Charter School. Garfield and the Rotary Club have targeted third and fourth grade students who are at the “basic” level of proficiency according to California’s standardized CST Star test.  Each tutor works one-on-one with a student in reading comprehension and vocabulary in order to push him or her up to the CST “advanced” level of proficiency.

“I have been a reading tutor in the Rotary program for the last eight years.  I have been working with third and fourth grade children and have found the experience very rewarding.  Many of the children are from homes where only Spanish is spoken so that their exposure to the English language and reading is limited.  I am a big fan of this Rotary program,” explained Tom Borden.

          Our club has provided SRA worksheets and National Geographic texts recommended by the Garfield staff to enhance the comprehension of non-fiction materials for extra reading practice. The tutors and students not only decode texts together, they also discuss difficult sections to evaluate different levels of meaning. 

“[My tutor] taught me how to write in cursive.  He helped me read better,” said Rafael Zumarraga.

One of the Rotary tutors wanted to know about his student’s country and they created a writing project about Tonga similar to the National Geographic articles that they had been reading.  “I taught my tutor about Tonga,” said Tianalei Faasisila.

During this time the student has the undivided attention of an adult for 45 minutes, either once or twice a week.  In today’s busy world, such attention is a gift for each student.  Usually, the tutor and student discuss academic subjects, but inevitably, more personal information, such as families, favorite possessions, dreams and plans for the future are also shared.  Most tutors request the same student from third to fourth grade due to the deeply personal relationship that grows between them.

“She’s from Switzerland.  She was fun,” stated Christian Nava who had the same tutor, Silvia Basegio for two years.

“It was a great honor to tutor Oscar Morales in English.  He was such a bright student and was learning English so well, that at the end of the year, I asked if I could tutor him again.  He agreed, and now his English is so good, he doesn’t need a tutor anymore!” exclaimed Carolyn Emmerson.

          Some of our volunteers work in the classroom with a teacher.  Having access to another adult in the classroom, allows the teacher to work with small groups, while the tutor monitors the rest of the class.  The tutor gets to know all the students and learns which ones need extra attention in reading, writing and even getting a little TLC (tender loving care).

          The relationships that have developed are a by-product of this productive tutor-student program, but a most unique and special one that is treasured by the students and the tutors alike.  Every May, Rotary tutors and their students enjoy an ice cream social and game day.