JeffersonElementary Students Thank Donors For Snack Time

MASSENA - A group of Jefferson Elementary School students were happy campers Monday afternoon, even while they were doing their homework.

In between tasks like working on mathematics exercises, they munched on animal crackers and drank juice that were made possible by donations from Alcoa and BJ's Wholesale Club.

Tiffany Maynard, a tutor with the North Country Bridge Program's after-school Homework Club at the Massena Housing Authority, said she had sent a letter to Alcoa asking for some help with the snacks. They received $200 to help cover the cost.

In addition, she said, "I used to work at BJ's. I went to them because I knew they used to do donations."

The after-school program is run by the North Country Bridge Program, a part of the State University of New York Center for Academic and Workforce Development.

They average between 12 to 14 students from Jefferson Elementary School who come to the program following a day of school and receive assistance from Ms. Maynard.

The program started last spring and has been on-going for nearly a year. Ms. Maynard has been with the program since June.

She said sometimes teachers will request that a student receive extra after-school help with assignments.

"The tutoring program is a little more strict," she said.

Other times, Ms. Maynard said, the students volunteer to come in. They can show up, sign in and get help with their homework. And, she added, they're not required to show up every day for tutoring.

"They walk in and walk out. They're not forced here. They want to be here," North Country Bridge Program Administrator Gabe S. Hinkley said.

They may not have to come, but they do, and sometimes the older students will even take on the role of tutor for the younger students, according to Ms. Maynard.

"A lot of them, when they're done their homework, help me out. Generally the older kids help out. We're looking for volunteers," she said.

Mr. Hinkley said the program has been a success since its inception, with the numbers of students continuing to climb as they meet in a community room supplied by the Massena Housing Authority.

The community room is located across the street from Jefferson Elementary School, and many of the students are residents of the housing authority.

"They can just walk home when they're done," he said.