Learning is part of the club

Barbara Diamond

It’s Tuesday and El Morro Elementary School third-grader Lupe gets to

stay after school.

Lupe, 9, is a participant in The Learning Club, an after-school

program for students in grades first through fifth that meets for an

hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I am happy I was picked to come,” Lupe said Tuesday. “It makes

school easier. I am going to be doing math homework today. It’s my

favorite subject.”

Students must be recommended by their teachers to participate in

The Learning Club, now in its fifth year at El Morro. The goals

include increasing student test scores in math and reading, and

raising student grades, feelings of self-reliance and positive

attitudes.

“The students’ teachers assign homework or supplemental work,”

said volunteer Peggie Thomas.

Giovani, 8, has been attending the after-school program since it

began this semester. Thomas said the second-grader speaks good

English, but is working to improve his comprehension of written

instructions. He said he was glad he was chosen for the program.

Second-grader Bodhi, also 8, is working on reading comprehension.

He gets about six pages of homework each week.

“I do it mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Bodhi said.

If he completes his homework, he gets to do some reading.

“He heads straight for the dictionary,” said Bodhi’s learning

partner, volunteer Pauline Baker.

The Learning Club is staffed by volunteers who are trained by

members of the Laguna Beach branch of the American Assn. of

University Women. Volunteers are trained in study skills, time

management, how to handle students, reading and spelling strategies

and how to do word problems.

Students are tutored in teacher-recommended areas.

Stefan Elbaz, 9, is a whiz at math, so he practices spelling.

“Today, I am going to write a paragraph on where I would live if I

didn’t live in Laguna Beach,” the third-grader said Tuesday.

He said he would get help from Miss Barbara -- that would be

Barbara Stroup, a volunteer for three years.

Spelling is fourth grader Jesus’ favorite subject.

“He’s good at it, too,” said volunteer Barbara Williams-Pemberton,

who was subbing that day.

“I am on call,” said Williams-Pemberton, who also is known to the

students as Miss Barbara.

Volunteers never take on more than two students at a time.

Cheri David, one of the coordinators of the teacher program, said

that Thomas and Jamieson match the volunteers to the students.

“We try to pick compatible pairs,” David said.

Fourth-grader Rafael was paired with Ed Gazich. Together, they

were studying the California Mission period of history. Rafael is

assigned about four pages of homework a week.

“He has gone from being quiet, never making a comment to teasing

the ‘bejasus’ out of me,” Gazich said.

This is the second year that Gazich has volunteered for the

program. He works for First Team Nolan Real Estate, which donated

$1,000 to help fund the program. Mayor Toni Iseman donated $250 from

the excess donated by supporters over her pledge to limit election

spending to $30,000.

“We run on a shoe-string,” coordinator David said. “We don’t need

a lot, but every little bit helps.”

Student participation is contingent on appropriate student

behavior and students earn points for positive behavior. Volunteers

are required to care about children, have one-to-two hours a week to

spend at the school and a way to get there. A late bus is supplied

for the students.

“As a tutor, you only gain,” volunteer Baker said. “You don’t

give, you receive.”

Bill Rihn has been a participant in the El Morro program for two

years, but previously had tutored at Laguna Beach and Dana Hills high

schools.

“I love doing this,” he said.

There are 21 students in the program and 22 volunteers. More

volunteers are needed.

“We have six kids that desperately need to be in here right now,”

David said.

For more information or to volunteer, visit Web sites

[email protected] or [email protected] or call 499-1817 or

497-2792.