September 7, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 This summer, Huntington Learning Center partnered with the Community Charter School of Paterson to offer supplemental reading instruction to nearly 70 students, ranging from kindergarten through fourth grade. The students completed the program last month. Huntington Learning Center hosted a ceremony for the students and their parents, the 30 Huntington teachers involved, and school representatives. Stacey Paez, operations manager for Huntington Learning Center’s northern New Jersey centers, said that, Partnership provides supplemental instruction as a whole, the students increased their grade-level reading ability in just 30 hours of instruction over a four-week period. “These students worked very hard, and at the end, they felt so accomplished,” said Paez. “We’re happy that we made an impact on how these 70 kids view themselves as readers.” The Community Charter School of Paterson is a K-4 school located in the City of Paterson. Due to temporary construction at the school this summer, CCSP sought an One of the things admissions boards look for in an applicant is his or her track record of volunteering. Though students likely won’t be denied admission if they have never volunteered, it never hurts to have volunteer work on a resume, and some students have even earned scholarships for their record of service. Often, a student’s favorite hobby matches perfectly with a volunteer opportunity. When such a match is made, teens tend to look forward to their volunteer work and might even find a career path. Students who love sports are likely to discover a host of volunteer opportunities at their disposal. The Special Olympics (www.specialolympics.org) is a rewarding volunteer opportunity for adults and children. The Special Olympics needs volunteers to fill positions that include athlete escort, scorekeeper, cheerleader, and even fans. Events occur 365 days a year, ensuring there is a local opportunity for every teen regardless of how hectic his or her schedule might be. Teenagers who love to travel can combine that passion with their desire to help the less fortunate. Many programs are designed for families who want to go on service-oriented vacations. For example, when signing up for such a program, a volunteer might visit a less fortunate country and help build and renovate existing structures. Global Citizens Network (www.globalcitizens.org) is one of Volunteer opportunities abound for teens many such programs, and families will work side-by-side with fellow volunteers and members of the community they help. Younger volunteers often find service-oriented vacations especially eye-opening, providing a different perspective of the world they might otherwise never be able to witness or understand. Teenagers who enjoy teaching others might find a local coaching opportunity suits them best. Coaching doesn’t have to be limited to sports, though grade-school aged children often look up to the local high school athletes and genuinely appreciate when such athletes take time to work with them personally. Additional teaching-based volunteer opportunities include the local music program for the musically inclined teen or reading to younger kids through the local library’s reading program. Some teens are naturally inclined to building, and they might even be off to engineering school once they earn their high school diplomas. Before applying to the school of their choice, teenagers with a more mechanical inclination might find a volunteering opportunity such as Habitat for Humanity®(www.habitat.org) is the perfect fit. No previous building experience is required, and volunteers both young and old often find their time erecting homes for the less fortunate among the most rewarding moments of their lives. outside provider for its summer literacy program. “The students selected for this program needed intensive support, and our goal was to ensure they did not experience any regression over the summer,” said Nikia Simmons, community schools director. “When we considered supplemental education service providers, we wanted the best. We wanted an evidence-based program and a company that had significant experience helping students. Huntington’s staff was so collaborative and flexible. The result is that our students made gains, and we also witnessed a lot of growth in their confidence levels.” CCSP hopes to continue to partner with Huntington throughout the school year to work with the same cohort of students. For details about Huntington Learning Center, call 1-800-CAN-LEARN or visit online at www.huntingtonlearning.com.