Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, Inc.

Description

Conceived as an enduring grassroots organization, Concerned Citizens is committed to building a strong, vibrant community through local organization, leadership and program development.

Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro is a non-profit community-building initiative dedicated to the social and economic development of the residents of Whitesboro, New Jersey.

The Homework Institute Program Description:

Our after school academic assistance program is designed to assist school-age children in achieving greater success at school by providing a structured and supportive environment to complete homework and sharpen skills.

Our methods build basic and advanced skills necessary for success. Certified teachers and volunteers provide daily homework help in all school classes ---math, language arts, science, and social studies. They encourage students to form positive peer groups who value academic achievement. The warm, encouraging atmosphere helps students feel more in harmony with their school community. Most students earn better grades and improve study habits within the nine month program, including students with learning differences. As grades improve, motivation and self-esteem rises.

The homework institute includes a healthy snack and nutrition education lessons conducted by a family and community health sciences educator from Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Nutrition education encourages healthy behavior which helps to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. These lessons provide education outside of the classroom augmenting the children’s development of life skills.

The homework institute meets right after school at the Martin Luther King Center in Whitesboro, NJ Monday through Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm during the school year September to June. Students who are registered for the homework institute by their parents are bused to the study center via Middle Township, NJ school busses.

The average student attendance during the 2010/2011 school year has grown to 70 students, over 20 students from the 2009/2010 last year. In collaboration with the Middle Township School District, CCWI was successful in having 4 certified teachers and 6 volunteers during the 2009/2010 school year. There currently is an average of 8/10 students to 1 teacher. Therefore volunteers are an invaluable resource for the programs success. We need more volunteers.