Julia Hicks has come up with a way for people to spend more time with children and give back to the Norman community.
Hicks, a student at the University of Oklahoma and a member of AmeriCorps with Oklahoma Serves program, is looking for volunteers for the Community After School Program's tutoring program.
"We started a program in September and have been looking for volunteers," she said.
Hicks said last semester, mentors were placed in four elementary schools. So far, the program is available at Adams, Eisenhower, McKinley and Washington elementary schools.
"We are expanding to five, and we want to expand to 16 schools to have tutoring for the children," she said.
Hicks said the program won't start up again until later this month. A definite date hasn't been set. There's no cost for children to attend.
"We ask tutors spend two days a week and 1 1/2 hours with children," she said.
She said volunteers would help children in reading and math and also assist in daily homework.
"We want the kids to have a bonding relationship with this person," she said. "One positive role model can influence their life."
Hicks said a high volunteer turnover rate exists because most volunteers are OU students whose schedules change each semester.
Terri Craig, Community After School Program executive director said younger and older adults are encouraged to sign up as mentors. Consistency with children is needed.
"We want to make sure volunteers can come at least twice a week," she said.
Craig said the mentoring program is driven by AmeriCorps members.
"They started it from the ground up with our oversight," she said. "Our hope is we get to a point it's strong enough to go on next year."
Hicks said a person must be at least 16 years old to volunteer for the program. Applications can be found on the Community After School Program's Web site: www.caspinc.org.
For more information, call 366-5970.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
Local news
Volunteers needed for after school program
- Local news
-
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
Nancy Coggins landed a job with a prestigious Oklahoma City advertising agency before the ink dried on her OU journalism diploma. The job was a first rung on her career ladder and she admits that it didn’t call for her creative talents. ...
-
New jail to install curtains
The F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center, though still in its infancy, is getting a facelift: new curtains....
-
Businesses go the extra mile for Valentine’s Day
Among the various images the phrase “Valentine’s Day” might conjure in one’s mind, probably the most immediate is the iconic dozen roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates....
-
New rehabilitation, skilled care center will be next to HealthPlex
StoneGate Senior Living President and CEO John F. Taylor announced Friday that his company has completed the purchase of approximately 6.7 acres of land in the Norman Regional Health System’s Medical Park West project at NW 36th Avenueand ...
-
Mystery performance provides theatrical fatal attraction
James Briggs has a pretty steady day job with the city parks department, doesn’t live anywhere near Little River and probably never owned or slept in a hatchback. He doesn’t usually wear sport coats that are two sizes too small, either ...
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacy seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
