New Saturday school to open

Tutors will include certified MCPS teachers, parent and community volunteers and high school students, who can earn Student Service Learning hours.

The program, entitled The Saturday School, is run by the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. (GBTLA), a nonprofit organization that currently has Saturday school centers at five other high schools in the county. Registration for the program is still ongoing.

According to George Thomas, president and chairman of the GBTLA, The Saturday School emphasizes academic improvement. However, he believes students do not necessarily have to struggle in school in order to benefit. "This program will provide students an opportunity to enjoy learning. They can even be gifted and talented," said Thomas.

Tutoring sessions will run from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. every Saturday from Oct 12 to May 3. Each session will begin with a 30-minute motivational assembly followed by a 45-minute reading and language arts session, a 45-minute math session and a 30-minute test-taking skills session.

According to Thomas, interest in placing a Saturday school center at Blair stemmed from Superintendent Jerry Weast's focus on county areas with a high number of minority and low-income students. Thomas said students from such areas have "proven to be behind the majority of students in the county."

MCPS spokesman Brian Porter praised The Saturday School's performance in helping low-income and immigrant students. "The Saturday School program has proven to be very successful with students who are overcoming academic challenges that are related to poverty and language development," he said.