CAMPUS VIEW: PEER TUTORS HELP FELLOW STUDENTS REACH POTENTIAL

"When you help someone climb a mountain, you are yourself much closer to the top." JHS Peer Tutors keep this quote in mind as we volunteer our time to help others achieve their highest potential.

Peer Tutors is a selective club, requiring each prospective member to complete an application and an interview. Students must be strong academically, have good study skills, and be willing to help others. This year, the club consists of thirty-one sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Monthly meetings are held to discuss projects and assign tutors. The success of the organization ties in those who make time in their busy schedules to help others.

Peer Tutors' top priority throughout the school year is tutoring. Each October, one day is set aside to review tutoring techniques and train new members. Throughout the day, members learn how to encourage, make decisions, deal with problems other than schoolwork, and be good listeners. As a group we discuss drug free strategies and take part in cooperative teaming activities. The day enables tutors to become more comfortable with each other and better trained to help our peers.

Peer Tutors offer free, one-on-one tutoring to any high school student. We have a variety of tutors, which allows us to tutor in every subject. Tutoring is conducted before or after school or during study hall. Many of our tutors are involved in numerous activities, including sports, music, as well as other clubs. The variety of tutoring times enables everyone in the club to tutor, thus making us more available to the entire student body.

In addition to one-on-one tutoring, Peer Tutors offers a group math session once a week for high school students. Since many students express a need for help in various math courses, we provide this session on a regular basis. The session meets every Wednesday after school for about an hour. Two tutors are on hand to assist in the variety of math classes.

Although Peer Tutors are primarily available to high school students, we offer our services to others as well. Tutors are available for students kindergarten through ninth grade as time allows. Generally, these students are tutored twice a week, for one hour each time at $5.00 per hour. If interested, please contact Judi Meyr at the JHS Counselor's Office at 243-9520.

In addition to tutoring, the JHS Peer Tutor Club provides many services to the school and community. To begin the school year, Peer Tutors helped with the JHS Fall Open House. We also set aside an hour during the school day to welcome all new high school students into the Jackson R-2 School District. All tutors were on hand to make introductions, serve refreshments, and help the students to feel welcome. Peer Tutors also assisted with the JHS Career Day, held in the high school gym. In addition, senior tutors provided help at the Regional College/Vocation School Fair, held at the Show Me Center at Southeast Missouri State University. This event was coordinated by Jackson High School.

Community activities are also a part of the Peer Tutors schedule. At least two community service projects are conducted each year, typically one each semester. This year, each fourth Monday, four to five tutors attend the Elks Bingo at the Veteran's home. These students visit with and help the veterans during the bingo games conducted by the Elks Club. We also plan to help at Jackson Park Clean-Up Day this spring as we have done in the past.

Like most high school organizations, Peer Tutors also find time to relax and have fun! Each year a Christmas and Spring Social are planned. In addition to eating and/or sharing gag gifts, cooperative learning games are played. In all our activities, Peer Tutors stress drug free awareness. The Peer Tutor Club is an organization supported through Jackson R-2 Drug Free Schools. Judi Meyr, High School counselor, is the organization's sponsor.

Marci Myracle, a senior, is president of Peer Tudors. She is the daughter of John and Rebecca Myracle.