JABA and Piedmont Futures partner to bring FISH to PVCC

For those interested in making a positive impact on an elementary school student’s education, the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) has partnered with Piedmont Futures for the third consecutive year to offer the Friends in School Helping (FISH) program.

The FISH program enables students, faculty and staff at Piedmont Virginia Community College to tutor students at both Cale and Clark Elementary School that have been recognized as being “academically at risk” by teachers. Volunteer tutors are wanted to help these students begin reading on grade level or gain a better understanding of other academic subjects.

“Sometimes, tutors work individually with students. Other times, they work with a small group of students, while the teacher instructs the rest of the class. Many students benefit by having more individualized instruction in the classroom,” said Erin Hughey-Commers, Program Coordinator for Piedmont Futures.

Volunteering as a tutor for the FISH program has its share of benefits, as it is a great way to bulk up a resume, gain experience in a classroom and help out the community.

To become a tutor, one must first attend a training session at PVCC on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. in room 850 in the main building, and begin tutoring students one hour a week over the course of the Spring Semester. Signing up for the training session may be done by sending an email to PiedmontFutures@pvcc.edu.

For more information, stop by the Welcome Back Pizza Party on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 12:20 p.m. in the North Mall Meeting Room.