School & Family Magazine Newstand Keller ISD Winter 2017-18 | Page 13

Bluebonnet Elementary
and Fossil Ridge AVID
Team Up for Tutoring
F
or the second year in a row, Bluebonnet Elementary School has partnered with Fossil Ridge High
School’s AVID program to provide free, weekly tutoring to students. The program, which has
now expanded to include Heritage Elementary School and Fossil Hill Middle School, has been a
huge success and has mutually benefited both students and mentors alike.
It’s fitting name, Tutor-U, gives Bluebonnet students the opportunity to work with high school
AVID mentors on homework, reading, math practice sheets, projects, and more. Held 7:25-7:55
Wednesday mornings, Tutor-U typically hosts approximately 20 students and seven tutors.
AVID, which stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, is a program that supports
college and career-bound students. Fossil Ridge High School’s AVID program, specifically, is
among the best of the best, having received a number of national awards and accolades in
recent years, including its designation as a National Demonstration School.
FRHS AVID students are required to earn community service hours each semester and this tutoring
program is the perfect fit, especially for those who have expressed a desire to pursue a career
in education or nursing. Interested mentors must apply, interview, and go through a screening
process in order to tutor students. The voluntary program is open to all students at Bluebonnet –
parents simply must fill out a permission form for their child to participate, and then students can
come on an as-needed basis throughout the year.
Bluebonnet Assistant Principal Shanel Jones oversees Tutor-U and is very excited about its success
and growth.
“This is an outstanding program that has been very well-received by our parents,” Jones said.
“Many times our parents aren’t able to help with weekly homework assignments or incentives at
home, and are comforted in knowing that their kids have a place to go when they need a little
extra help or support with their school work.”
There’s no doubt that you’ll find hard work and smiling faces abound when you walk into one of
the tutoring classrooms, and that goes for the mentors too.
FRHS Seniors Jasmine Archer and Rebekah Griffin enjoy their
time with their Bluebonnet regulars.
“It’s a great opportunity to work with little kids,” Archer said.
“They look up to us, and it is so rewarding to watch their
face when something we have been working on clicks with
them.”
Griffin agreed, “We are happy to be here to help them
work through the things they may be struggling with.”
“We always strive to meet the needs of our students, and
this is just another opportunity to help our Trailblazers succeed while they are here,” Jones said.
Tutor-U will continue throughout the spring semester, and has hopes to expand to more campuses
in the future.
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