Young children love it when teens give them attention. And at Greenbriar West Elementary, that happens on a regular basis.
Every Friday afternoon, from 2:15-3 p.m., 30 members of Chantilly High's boys and girls cross country and track teams walk over to neighboring GBW and mentor 40 students.
They help first-graders with reading and math, and third graders with science and social studies. They've been doing it since Sept. 24, and the partnership's turned into a big hit. GBW Assistant Principal Brenda Blue said every teacher has nothing but positive comments to make about the teen tutors.
"WE ARE fortunate to have them and to be able to have the kids work in small groups and one-on-one — giving them the extra attention that's so hard to capture in the public school system," she said. "All the children completed their science labs and math activities on time, and every one of the Chantilly students has really demonstrated outstanding leadership."
The idea is the brainchild of Matt Gilchrist, who teaches special-education students — mainly seniors — and is in his fifth year of coaching cross country and track at Chantilly. "I've been thinking for three years about some way we could make a connection with another school and for the kids at both schools to see that we're all one community," he explained.
Many Chantilly students came from GBW and, said Gilchrist, "I think it's important for the kids to feel that satisfaction of giving back to the community." He coaches 80-120 students each season, and most of them are honor students. "We push community service at our school," he said. "And they're good kids and good students — conscientious, friendly and willing to help out."
His idea took a step toward becoming reality, this summer, while he was observing GBW's principal and staff for his master's in educational administration. Said Blue: "We were talking about community service and the idea of kids giving things back, and Matt wanted the students he coached to have this feeling."
"We selected third grade [for tutoring] because it's such a critical year with SOLs," she said. "And because so many track members signed up to participate, we added first and fourth grade."
GBW Principal John Hilkert called the tutoring program wonderful. "[The teen-agers] are doing enrichment for GT kids and are also supporting kids with specific needs," he said. "It's a connection between our students and the high school, and they're athletes and role models for these kids. They're also helping them learn about a balanced life — academics, athletics and putting priorities on things."
Blue said the high-schoolers "present a positive image when they come here. We told them what a great service they're providing — the young ones look up to them. And they're faithful about coming every week. They help out with science lessons, lab activities and math-center activities.
On a recent Friday, Chantilly sophomores Jordan Cox and Kristy Witek, both 15 and on the cross-country team, sat down on the floor and played games with a class of GBW first-graders. Usually six children are at a table with two teens. Tutors also read to them and play math games teaching addition and subtraction.
"Other times, we help them with their coloring projects," said Cox. "You have to keep control so things don't get too crazy. But I like getting to be around them. They really enjoy it, and it's fun getting to know them and hear them say, 'Oh, look, Jordan's here.'"
While playing Chutes and Ladders with her group, Witek said she volunteered because "it sounded like a fun opportunity to help kids learn. It's a lot of fun seeing the kids' faces when they learn, and it's nice being able to play with and read to them." Chutes and Ladders, she said, "will help them with their counting and numbers."
First-grade teacher Karen Rucker said her students look forward to seeing the Chantilly students, all week long. They've gotten to know their tutors by name and ask her if their "high-school friends" are coming.
"The [tutors] are very cooperative and willing to be here," said Rucker. "And it means I can do other activities with the students — such as a graphing activity with cereal — that normally I couldn't have done without the extra help."
"It's great," said first-grader Parsa Bahri about the tutoring program. He said the Chantilly students are "nice, and they play with us the right way. We don't fight with them. They help us learn games and writing."
Meanwhile, in a trailer, Chantilly senior Mark Hubbard, 17, helped third-graders with an art project. "I've been looking for service opportunities, and I like working with the kids," he said. "It's real relaxed, and they're funny — I get a kick out of the things they say."
Working with a GT class, he said the students are "real smart. I don't have to do much to keep them on task." One Friday, they worked with "mystery powders" for a science lab, and he helped the students figure out what they were, based on different observations.
Another time, said Hubbard, he assisted them with problems in their math-logic workbook. He also led a reading-group "book talk" and had the students discuss a book they'd read and relate it to real life. "It's fun having [the tutors] here, said third-grader Janine Fudala, 8. "It's easier to do my work with them helping." Added Daniel Belsky, also 8: "They have good ideas and they help us learn things."
Another tutor, senior Taylor Box, 18, said he has a good time working with the children and his time is credited toward his National Honor Society hours. "It's a bundle of fun — especially working on science projects and experiments with the kids," he said. "It's very enjoyable — more than I thought it would be."
Students Katie Dingman and Andy Han, both 8, are also glad the teens visit their classrooms. "They help us a lot and they're really fun," said Katie. "If you didn't hear the directions, they tell you them." Added Andy: "They help us with science experiments and help us understand the questions."
Their third-grade GT teacher, Diane Fulton, is also pleased. "The kids respond well to them, and the teens are great, little teachers. High-schoolers are sometimes seen in a negative light, but these ones are phenomenal. They're always on time, responsible and well-prepared, and the kids love them."