HOSTS Calvin staff Helping One Student to Succeed Pre-College Programs Partnering with local churches to teach students about educational opportunities.

Once a week for 30 minutes, retired Calvin music professor Howard Slenk takes a short walk over to Ottawa Montessori Academy to meet with Angel, a fourth grader at the Grand Rapids Public School.

Slenk takes out a folder, quickly reviews the contents, finds an appropriate book or two and sits in the school library prepared to read with his mentee.

Angel enters the library with a smile and quick wave and the two begin their weekly session: Angel reading with Slenk giving the some times necessary prompts.

Slenk is just one of 15 Calvin alumni and staff members who are volunteering 30 minutes a week to the HOSTS (Helping One Student To Succeed) program, recently promoted by the Grand Rapids Public Schools.

He is one of 1,700 mentors citywide who have joined together to help students who are struggling with reading at the early grade levels.

“This is a tremendous need,” said volunteer coordinator Jodie Brannum. “We have 20 schools requiring 240 mentors each. We need more than 4,000 volunteers to service all of the children who have needs.”

Through the program, which began last year, students are paired with a mentor four times a week for 30 minutes. Each mentor meets with the same student every week, requiring four mentors per student.

“It is between kindergarten and third grade that children learn to read and beginning in fourth grade they read to learn,” said Brannum. “If they can’t read, they struggle and that turns into behavioral problems. Our goal is get all students to a reading level before it becomes a problem.”

The half-hour each week is devoted to developing reading schools along with developing a relationship between the mentor and child.

“Students develop a strong bond with their mentors,” said Heidi Zophy, HOSTS coordinator at Ottawa Montessori. “It’s amazing what 30 minutes of attention can do.”

In fact, last year 800 students were serviced with an average reading level increase of 1.8 grades, almost double the normal 1 grade jump.

Because of the success of the program, recruiting for this year’s program was extended to include businesses and institutions like Calvin where perhaps a greater number of volunteers could be found.

“We are thrilled with the quality of mentors from Calvin,” said Zophy. “I only wish we had more of them.”

Calvin alumni are encouraged to contact Carol Rienstra, Calvin director of community relations, at 616-957-6175 or email crienstr@calvin.edu to find our more about this program.