Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club

Sign up for the Mathews-Dickey free one-on-one Volunteer Tutorial Program

Tutor Program The Mathews-Dickey Volunteer Tutorial Program is seeking tutors now to sign-up for one hour a week on Saturdays:

Fall Session: October 24 to December 5, 2009
Spring Session: March 6 to May 1, 2010

There are four one-hour sessions:

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
11 a.m. to Noon
Noon to 1 p.m.
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The program was initiated in 1986 in conjunction with the St. Louis Public School System, in response to the minimum 2.5 GPA requirement for extra-curricular particpation instituted by the late Superintendent Dr. Jerome Jones. Now open to students from all area districts, the program has assisted more than 4,500 students with math, reading and language arts skills since its inception. This free one-one-one tutoring program targets youngsters in grades kindergarten through eight, in their formative years when study skills are beginning to develop. The program formerly operated weeknights on Mon.-Thursday. To better accommodate the changing work schedules for parents and tutors, the sessions are being moved to Saturdays in the newly renovated lab by the Zonta Club of St. Louis

The program is open to all young men and women, and it matches them with volunteer tutors. Tutors meet with a student one-on-one at least one hour per week throughout the school year, and help children in their areas of weakness, as identified by a teacher. All student particpants must be or sign-up to become members in good standing of Mathews-Dickey. The Club's membership fee is $25.

Tutors are recruited from various corporations, educational institutions, sororities/fraternities, and business and civic organizations. Tutors provide more than teaching assistance; in many instances they serve as role models and mentors to the children.

Students are referred to the program by their teachers and coaches, as well as by their parents. Some students enter the program with poor grades, needing remedial assistance, while others simply need motivation and guidance to perform at higher levels.

Parental involvement is strongly encouraged, and there is a list of guidelines by which parents are asked to abide.

[Note: There are no classes on the following dates: Thanksgiving Break: November 28, 2009; and Spring Break: April 3, 2010.]

For more information contact Mandy Van Velkinburgh, (314) 382-5952, ext. 270.

Computer Literacy Instruction Program (CLIP)
The CLIP program provides training to hundreds of young men and women, ages 5-18. Our After-School Porgram participants conduct research and enrichment exercises using the Internet, Encarta and other Microsoft-based education software. High-schoool career and leadership program participants take part in ACT Tutorials, research colleges and learn the Microsoft Office software package.

CLIP's goals are to:

Produce computer literate and proficient CLIPPers;
Provide youth with the opportunity to conduct Internet research for college entrance and homework assignments, as well as participate in ACT and other educational enrichment tutorials; and
Reduce the "digital divide" by helping youth become comfortable with and master technology to help them gain further employment.

The After-School Session features students from five area public elementary schools and is taught by volunteers from five area companies: Monday Lexington/SSM Health Care; Tuesday Mark Twain/Edward Jones; Wednesday Nance Elementary/Citigroup; Thursday Ford/Nestle' Purina PetCare; and Friday Sigma-Aldrich, Corp/TBA. The Saturday Financial Education and Youth Leadership Sessions are open to all junior-high and high-school-aged young people.

There is a growing demand for high-tech jobs and finding employees to fill these positions is becoming a challenging task. Microsoft President & CEO Steve Ballmer cited the lack of computer availability in schools and the need for greater teacher computer liteary, is the root of the problem. We work hand-in-hand with the public schools and corporate community to remedy this situation by introducing young people to technology and creating a link between the classroom and our lab.

The After-School Session meets Monday through Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Fall Session: October 19 to December 4, 2009
Spring Session: March 1 to April 30, 2010

[Note: Classes are postponed for Thanksgiving Break: November 23-27, 2009; and Spring Break: March 15-19, 2010.]

For more information contact, Ty Howard, PR & Special Events assistant, (314) 382-5952, ext. 232, or Barbara Washington, PR & Special Events vice president, (314) 382-5952, ext. 234.