Learn, Play, Create Program Enriches Local Youth

By RJ Smith

POUGHKEEPSIE – Students from Poughkeepsie High School spent time playing at Bounce Sports this past Friday afternoon.

Learn, Play, Create is a grant that is closely related to the pilot tutoring program conducted at Poughkeepsie High School. Wesley J. Lee is the Founder and CEO of Save At Risk Children for Corporate America, (SARCA), the 501 (c) (3) not for profit that is sponsoring the Pilot Tutoring Program. Lee said, “The program will ensure that students will do well in High School and graduate. They will go on to college and become qualified, productive employees. In order to expand the program to provide tutoring for more students in the 7th and 8th grades, we ask local businesses, foundations and philanthropists to donate much needed funding. Please send checks to SARCA, PO Box 4846, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602. All donations are tax deductible.”

Poughkeepsie High School teachers Katie Livermore and Laura Tietz were the chaperones for the students at Bounce. Tietz stated that she and Livermore believed that the Learn, Play, Create is supposed to serve as a reward for students. “It’s not all about working, it’s about having fun too,” Tietz said. “It’s about camaraderie, it’s about them bonding too. Now we’ve got eight graders coming to the high school and I’ve had conversations with them about how comfortable they feel coming here. They’ve said they feel very comfortable because they’ve already been in the building.”

Tietz continued to emphasize the familiarity gained as a result of the program, once again noting the comfort students have showcased while in the building. “They know where the cafeteria is, they’re dealing with children that they’ve been going to see again next year. So I think this play component is good for them to build those relationships with these other older children.”

The program has additionally given students a chance to create meaningful bonds with older students. Tietz noted that one benefit to the program involves these students entering high school while having already formed a friendship ahead of time.

Livermore brought up that discussions have started to take place in relation to determining criteria for students entering the program. She has additionally begun to work on ways for parents in need of tutoring services to be informed about the program. “I can tell you that we’re starting to sit down and talk about more specific criteria for entrance to the program,” Livermore said. “We are looking to expand next year and we are working on putting together pamphlets and a way for parents from middle school and high school who are looking for tutors to reach out to us.”

Another goal of the program involves providing a place for children in need to go. Livermore cited this as one factor of the program that they aim to continue to provide. “We want to provide a service for kids who are in need of help and need a place to go,” Livermore said. “It wouldn’t be the sort of situation where we’re tracking their progress throughout the year. It would be a safe place to come if you need help, where people would be available to help you with homework or study for a test. We would like to have both those elements cohabitating in the program.”

There are many benefits to the program that Livermore and Tietz expressed. The importance that it bears will likely be easily felt in the years that follow, as the foundation of camaraderie built through the program will create a positive impact on these students.