Supporting Youth Tutoring Program

A Partnership between Marin County Community School, Marin County School Volunteers, & Dominican University of California Service-Learning Program made possible in part by a Service-Learning Grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board

The goal [of service-learning] is to grow, to mature, to expand your scope of existence and to find pleasure in learning outside the traditional classroom. Service-learning is a give and take, a tug-of-war, a sharing experience. I spent two hours a week for an entire semester pushing, pulling, giving, taking, simply bartering knowledge with a group of the most unsuspecting teachers.---Katie (Dominican Service-Learning Tutor at MCCS)

Thanks to our growing partnership with Marin County School Volunteers, Dominican service-learners have been able to serve as tutors and mentors at Marin County Community School.  

• Marin County School Volunteers

"The simple act of sharing time and skills with young people who need extra help has monumental consequences for the future of these students. Do you want to change a life? Read with a child, volunteer to be a tutor, donate equipment or financial resources to Marin County School Volunteers. Your effort can save two lives, the student's and yours."

--Mary Jane Burke
Marin County Superintendent of Schools

Marin County School Volunteers (MCSV) is the only countywide organization matching volunteer tutors with public school students in classrooms and homework centers. Our goal is to help every child succeed. We provide orientations to assist new volunteers, as well as on-going training for experienced volunteers.

Contact Info:
Marin County School Volunteers
111 Las Gallinas Avenue, San Rafael, CA  94913
http://www.marincountyschoolvolunteers.org/

• Marin County Community School

The Dominican University Service-Learning Tutoring Program operates at the Marin County Office of Education’s Alternative Education site.  This campus consists of two schools, Marin County Community School (MCCS) and Phoenix Academy (PA).  Students range from 7th to 12th grades and have demonstrated the need for a small, highly supportive, and closely supervised educational environment. Phoenix Academy is the only free adolescent drug treatment program available in this county. 

Dominican, MCSV, and MCCS have collaborated on the development of a structured tutoring and mentoring program aimed at providing academic enrichment while raising self-esteem and confidence of these marginalized population of teens. During specified hours, Dominican students work in various classrooms.  With MCCS teacher guidance tutors connect with students in groups and one-on-one sessions focused on improving academic skills and passing the high school exit exam.

Working with “at-risk” youth benefits the Dominican students by enriching course content, broadening their view of the world, breaking down stereotypes, and understanding core social issues.  Ultimately, a vital goal of service-learning is to foster social awareness/responsibility and active citizenship.
 

• Service-Learning Student Leaders at MCCS

We currently have awarded three service-learning scholarships to Maggie DePond, Savier Madden, and Tasha Kahn who serve as SL Student Leaders at MCCS.  They act as liaisons between Dominican students, MCCS students and teachers, and the Service-Learning Department.  They also conduct tutor trainings, maintain tutor schedules, chair monthly meetings, and support Dominican Tutors.

What Dominican Student's Are Saying About Their Experience at MCCS

At County Community, I was able to be an escape for students. I provided them with the academic help they needed as well as a listening ear; I was able to build trust with, and encourage them to dream about their future and make plans.  In return, they opened my eyes to deeper problems in the community, and encouraged me to strive for dreams to help the community once I graduate from college.  I am aiming to be a lawyer once I finish school, and the social issues that County Community deals with are the types of issues I want to reform and fix. County Community helped me find my calling in my area of studies. ---Janelle

A few months ago (while tutoring a MCCS student in English), I was going over the word “have”. To give a few examples, I said, “I have clothing. I have a book. I have a pencil...” Then I asked him, “What do you have?” He paused. At first, I thought that he did not understand what I meant, but then I realized he was thinking. Finally, he responded, “I have my life. That's all I have.” ---Kate