I am writing to introduce you to a new opportunity we at Hope Chapel in Sterling are offering to Wachusett district students in junior and senior high school. Starting from 6-8pm on Thursday October 5th, 2017, and every other Thursday thereafter, we will provide free tutoring, SAT prep, and mentorship to students in math and science. Our mission is to support the growth of students toward academic excellence, whether they are struggling to pass their courses in school, or are excelling in their classes and seek to be challenged to their full potential.

Our volunteers are from the community and represent professionals and college students, including:

• an MD/PhD Associate Professor of Medicine at UMass Medical School
• a Senior Program Manager at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA
• a graduate student at WPI who directs the campus tutoring center for math and science
• an Assistant Vice President at Leominster Credit Union and former high school math teacher
• a PhD Professor of Psychology at Fitchburg State University and expert in the psychology of learning
• others such as high school teachers, college students, and professionals in the community

We will match students with tutors depending on their specific needs, from homework help to test prep, advanced conceptual understanding, and career mentorship. While these tutoring services will be provided in our church facilities, we will not have any scheduled religious outreach during the program. The students and their families will of course be welcome to attend our other services to learn more, which include youth group, Sunday services, and others.

We are requesting that students or their parents communicate their interest by signing up for a 2 month Block (4 sessions) at a time, during which we will have consistent participation by tutors, which will allow continuity for the students.  

Fall Semester: 10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16, 11/30, 12/14
Spring Semester: 1/11, 1/25, 2/8, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, 5/31

After these 4 blocks, we will break for the summer to assess the demand for these services and make changes to best serve the students. If there is sufficient interest, we hope to offer additional subjects like literature, history, languages, and others. We also plan to recruit some of your brightest students to help tutor younger students as well, which will help to expand our reach and also allow them to enrich their education through peer teaching and mentorship, as well as enable them to improve their applications to college through service and teaching experience.  

We do hope that you will partner with us to get the word out to students and their parents that we are here to serve them, and help them recognize the tremendous opportunities that await them after graduation. We will seek your feedback as well, to improve our offerings and better understand the needs of your students. Sincerely,

John E. Harris, co-director

Ken Hall, co-director