One Hour a Week Can Make All the Difference in the Life of a Racine Child

Children in this community are waiting for adults to take an active role in their lives. They need support and role models to develop into productive citizens. You can provide this by giving just one hour a week of your time to become a mentor or tutor. Mentors and tutors support our youth by tutoring youth in subjects in which they are having difficulty, talking to them, teaching them to play games, encouraging them to work hard to succeed, teaching them a job skill, listening to them read, etc.

A number of agencies in our community work to connect community members with students who need mentors or tutors. Mentor Kenosha & Racine also provides training for people who want to tutor and mentor children. The Volunteer Center also trains adults to tutor and mentor children. Organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters provide valuable mentoring and support for youth. John XIII Educational Center provides tutoring, mentoring and counseling for middle and high school children.

Right now in RUSD middle schools alone, 65 children are waiting for mentors. Recently, when one student got a mentor after waiting for a considerable period of time, she introduced her mentor to another student. That student asked if every student could have one. Every child who does not have a strong role model in his/her life could benefit from an adult investing one hour per week to support him/her, demonstrating to that child that someone has a vested interest in his/her success as a student and as a valuable asset in the community.

If you have one hour per week to spare, please consider investing that time in a child. Please contact your neighborhood school or one of the agencies below to inquire about working with a child. Your one hour per week could make all the difference in the world.

To contact a Racine Unified School, visit the District website and click on a school name.
Mentor Kenosha & Racine: 262.595.2604 or 262.595.2635
Volunteer Center of Racine: http://www.volunteercenterofracine.org/index.php/Main_Page/ 262.886.9612
John XIII Educational Center: 262.898.7250
Big Brothers Big Sisters: www.beabignow.org / 262.637.7625

Focus on Children: How YOU Can Help

Last month, I wrote a commentary for the Journal Times about changing the conversation in the community to focus on the children. I discussed the importance of everyone – school staff, community members, parents and local businesses – working together to improve opportunities for the children of the Racine Unified School District. I believe it is vital for Racine Unified to open our doors to the community. We are inviting you in to experience our schools and to provide your support. We hope that you will consider helping.

Our children are the future of Racine. We must all embrace and support them in achieving success so that our community can be a wonderful and thriving place to live and work.

There are ways that you can help. Some include providing a small piece of your time; some include sharing your talents or resources. If you can make a difference in the life of one RUSD child, you will have made a difference for the entire community. Whatever you are able to give to our children, we are thrilled to accept. Below are just some of the ways you can help:

1. Mentor an RUSD student. For more information, contact the RUSD Extended Day Program office at 262.664.6990.
2. Volunteer at an RUSD school. Please contact the school directly if you are interested in volunteering your time. Visit the RUSD website and click on “Our Schools.” Then click on the school name for contact information.
3. Share positive stories and be a public supporter of RUSD. Share positive stories about the things going on in RUSD schools with your neighbors, family, friends and community members. Be a positive voice rather than a critical one. Build pride in Racine Unified.
4. Join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). If you have a child in school, this is a great way to get more involved while supporting the school.
5. Tutor an RUSD student. Contact the RUSD Extended Day Program office at 262.664.6990 to sign up. Or to support homeless students through tutoring, please contact Linda Boyle at 262.634.5975 or lindaboyle1@gmail.com.
6. Visit an RUSD school. It may have been a long time since you have been inside a school. Consider visiting a local school to learn about the great things happening there.
7. Show support for studentsin your community by:
   • Taking time to listen to them; ask them how they are doing in school
   • Supporting a school fundraiser.
   • Attending a school concert, athletic event or activity.
8. Donate resources. We are happy to accept a variety of donations including school supplies, clothes, financial contributions, gift cards (food or gas), etc. For information, contact Liz Erven at 262.619.4620.
9. Attend a School Board meeting. Come to learn about what’s going on at the District level. Board meetings are typically held the third Monday of every month at the Administrative Service Center (3109 Mt. Pleasant St.) at 6:30 p.m.
10. Participate on District advisory committees. Offer your ideas, experience and expertise to District administrators through participation in advisory committees. We are currently coordinating a school choice committee to consider ideas for expanding choice in Racine Unified. If you are interested in being involved, please call 262.631.7112.

I encourage everyone to learn more about the great things happening in RUSD schools every day by visiting the RUSD website: www.racine.k12.wi.us. Read the news items, watch our videos and spend some time getting to know our District. Sign up to receive e-mails and newsletters. You’ll be surprised by the amazing things happening in our classrooms every day.