Marin middle school students get an academic boost from teenagers

Marin High School students are increasingly filling the many gaps in tutoring, learning and support for high school students across the country, according to education leaders.

In south Marin, a new free twice-a-week afternoon tutoring program involving Tamalpais High School students is getting a big response at Mill Valley High School, Principal Sarah McKenna said.

“We are excited to welcome Tam High students to our campus, giving back to this community in such a meaningful way,” McKenna said of the high school library program that began last month. “This partnership not only helps our current students academically, but also strengthens the bond between our schools.”

In San Rafael, Davidson High School Principal Michael Stahon said he is happy to welcome students from Marin Academy once a week to help students with homework and other support.

“The biggest benefit, in my opinion, is that it’s often easy for high school students to connect and build trust with our middle school students,” Stahon said. “Our students have shared with me that they appreciate the extra support.”

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Mill Valley High School student Tommy Reamas gets help with a science challenge from his sister Kathy Reamas, left, and Elle Dunn, both Tamalpais High students, at the high school on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Kathy Rimas and Dunn were among 19 tutors from Tam High who help high school students with their schoolwork. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

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John Carroll, superintendent of Marin schools, said middle school students often find it easier to get help from older teenagers.

“Older peers are often easier to socialize with than adults, so they can provide an attainable example of achievement and in many cases will have a better understanding of what a younger student is going through,” Carroll said.

“For example, there’s a big difference between someone who says, ‘Yes, I took the same chemistry class two years ago and I can remember what it was like,’ and an adult who can say, ‘I took that class 25 years ago. and went on.” get a master’s degree,” he said.

High school students also participate in an expanded free after-school program at Marin County Libraries in Corte Madera, Novato and Fairfax and the Marin County Community Center in San Rafael.

The program was started by Sarani Puri at the Corte Madera Library in 2022 when Puri was a student at Redwood High School.

In the Sausalito-Marin School District, the nonprofit Bridge the Gap program brings high school students to help middle school students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy.

Lisa Raffel, executive director of Bridge the Gap, said some high school students who participate in the Bridge the Gap program work part-time in an extended day program at a Sausalito K-8 school.

“We have a couple of our BTG students working part-time in our after-school program that includes high school students,” Raffel said. “They help with homework, games, extension activities and general support.”

Middle school students also teach after-school entertainment programs at MLK, Raffel said. Students from Branson School in Ross taught sailing and guitar classes, she said. Students at Redwood Middle School and Marin Catholic High School volunteered to help run the games at the school’s recent K-8 festival, she said.

Bridge the Gap is also working to develop a math curriculum in partnership with Mathnasium, a math support organization, Raffel said.

The Novato Unified School District recently hosted a free event sponsored by the College of Marin focusing on the district’s eighth graders and their college and career aspirations.

The event, titled “Empower Tomorrow,” was held Oct. 11 at Indian Valley College’s Novato campus. The event allowed students to interact with business representatives and explore different career fields that fit their interests and aspirations.

“This program was an incredible opportunity for students to explore career interests, network with industry professionals and learn more about pathways to high school and college programs,” said Julie Synyard, the district’s executive director of educational services.