WCLP Winter Program

After having WCLP (Westminster Crossroads Learning Program) as my winter afternoon program since my Fourth Form year, I was sad to see this tutoring season come to an end before Spring break.

Over the past few years, I have actively participated in this Westminster-affiliated non-profit organization both during the school year and over the past two summers. In my time working with Mr. and Mrs. Eckerson, I have helped tutor in both public and charter schools in the Hartford community, working with boys and girls ranging in age from ten to eighteen years old. In recent months, the volunteers also worked at a recently opened pre-school in Hartford, helping teachers with both their work assignments and cleaning chores.

 

This past winter season, the group of Rebecca Ryan '16, Hallie Feibel '16, Erin Gorham '16, Mary Kille '18, Greg Livingston '18 and Mrs. Eckerson went twice a week to a boys’ middle school (grades five through eight) called Covenant Preparatory School in Hartford. Each day the group met with the vice principal of the school, Mr. Martin, to discuss the importance and practice of tutoring as well as connected topics such as racial bias or analytical questioning of our own educational experiences.

The group then proceeded to each meet with one to two students during their study hall period to help with whatever subjects they needed help with that day. Both the tutor and the student benefit from the interaction, and it is safe to say all the volunteers had a lot of laughs and learned together along the way.

This experience was particularly memorable to me, as some of the kids I have been tutoring since last winter will now be graduating eighth grade with improved grades and a prepared attitude and academic resume for high school. I hope to attend their middle school graduation in May.

Although we may never see these kids again, hopefully we helped make a difference in their lives. WCLP will be continuing their second summer of providing a summer school program to the Covenant Prep middle schoolers here on the Hill, with the help of many Westminster students and faculty.