Area seniors help UCS students reach even higher

Residents who helped build the strong foundation of Utica Community Schools are helping to make sure students can reach even higher.

More than 20 area senior citizens recently received training to be part of the district’s “Reaching Higher Across Generations” - a tutoring program that pairs them with elementary students to support classroom instruction.

The recently-trained seniors are joining more than 60 other active volunteers to provide weekly tutoring in math, writing and reading.

“These kids are our future,” said volunteer Dennis Purgatori. “We are going to need them to carry on.”

To support the program, the district held a two-hour training program to share information with volunteers on how to connect with students, how technology has changed learning and the best ways to support classroom teachers.

Strategies to support literacy instruction were also shared. It is the support of reading instruction that drew the interest of volunteer Nancy Larco.

“I love reading, and it is such a vital skill,” she said.

This is the third year that the district has paired with area senior citizens to support classroom instruction.

The goals of the program include:

Helping students improve in reading, writing and math;

Creating opportunities for both generations to appreciate and learn from one another;

Providing avenues for seniors to benefit students by sharing their wisdom and talents; and

Encouraging seniors to become active in their local schools and experience traditional and new learning initiatives that are leading to long-term student success.



Volunteer Donna Murphy - who has donated her time since retirement to area senior programs - is excited to support the next generation.

“I think I am ready to do something different,” she said.