Saturday Math Enrichment Program Aims to Enhance Student Learning

The last place you might expect elementary school students to be on a Saturday morning is at school studying math, but that's exactly what you'll find if you stop by during one of the sessions for the Math Enrichment Program.

On the first day of winter vacation, more than 40 students showed up to work on math problems and games with tutors from 10 a.m.-noon., and even more students registered at the first session.

The enrichment program is put on by the Parents of African American Students of Novi and is open to all kindergarten through twelfth grade students in the district. High school students, parents and a few teachers all volunteer to tutor the children.

William Sanders of PAASN said they try to create a positive and supporting environment for children to spend more time learning.

"The more time they spend on task, the better they will become," Sanders said.

He said the program can help students at all levels, whether they are behind or advanced.

The program runs in the winter and includes 10 sessions at a one-time cost of $25, which includes a snack at each session. Each additional family member costs $5.

The remaining session dates are as follows: Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25,  March 10, March 24, April 21 and May 5. 

PAASN Educational Committee Chair Steve Mims said math is a fundamental part of students' education.

Both Mims, an engineer, and Sanders, who is in commercial banking, said that math is important and used every day in the real world.

"It's part of the essentials of education and can help you go into any field that you want," Mims said.

The program uses workbooks and other materials, the majority of which were purchased by two grants—one of $1,00 and one of $1,750—from the Novi Education Foundation.

This is the third year of the program, which has taken off since the group was recognized by the district as an official parent organization this past year. 

PAASN

PAASN was started in 2006 by parents of African American students who saw a need for open dialogue with the district.

Today, the organization serves to enhance the education of students of all ethnicities in the district.

Mims says they see themselves as facilitators that help students at any level.

"We want to improve the quality of everybody's education," he said.

Last year the group took students on a field trip to Greenfield Village, and they hope to do it again this year.

Mims says the group also hopes to start a reading program during the summer, but one that doesn't interfere with the one at the .

PAASN also holds social events and reaches out to new parents in the district to help their children acclimate in school.