Junior and senior high schools in Lake Washington School District (LWSD) have established after-school study programs for struggling students. After-school study programs aim to give students time, support, and a safe place to complete homework and assignments with the help of a tutor or academic mentor. Study programs vary school to school, but the universal need is community volunteers to tutor the students who need help.

Lake Washington High School Associate Vice Principal Miriam Mickelson shared, “The success of our program is hinged on, amongst other things, the number of tutors who volunteer their time each week.”

Several of our Kirkland schools are looking for community members to volunteer their time to help students achieve personal academic success. Students will have interactions with supportive adults to help them through an assignment that may be difficult to understand. Mickelson said, “Our hope is that 80 percent of the students participating in our after school program will have fewer failing grades in their second semester compared to first semester.”

LWSD’s LINKS Program is looking for community members to share their time and talent to help close the gap on academic tutor needs. Interested volunteers are required to complete the LWSD volunteer application and attend a volunteer orientation before beginning their assignment at a school. The next orientation is at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at LWSD Resource Center, 16250 N.E. 74th St., Redmond. For more information on all volunteer opportunities, visit www.lwsd.org/links or contact Program Coordinator, Nanci Wehr at 425-936-1410.