Students Offering Support
May 25, 2009
WATERLOO, Ont.: High school students in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge region are gearing up for June finals and are once again, Laurier university SOS (Students Offering Support) student volunteers are working hard to raise money, roofs and most importantly, their marks. Between June 15 and 23, 45 volunteer university students will be offering 15 customized SOS Exam-AIDs to Catholic and Public High School students across the region, for a donation of $25 per session.
High School SOS’ successful January pilot tutored over 75 students from 12 different schools. Volunteer tutors received an overall quality rating of 8.6 out of 10 – an amazing result that fueled the full launch this June.
“High school students are still learning how to study and we’re here to help,” said Greg Overholt, Executive Director, Students Offering Support. “My colleagues and I were in this position not too long ago and we’re sympathetic to the amount of pressure these students are under. By introducing the students to SOS, we are emphasizing the idea that they can study and improve their grades to ensure future personal success, while making a difference at the same time.”
Over the past four years, Students Offering Support has developed and perfected their ‘Exam-AID’ group review sessions for university students. These initiatives have raised students’ marks and as well as over $200,000 for educational development projects around Latin America. To date, SOS volunteers have tutored thousands of undergraduates nationwide and now provide academic support to high school students. Funds raised this June will support two projects in rural communities in Costa Rica and Honduras, and are being built by over 35
Laurier volunteers this August on two week outreach trips.
Based on January’s pilot results, SOS and its volunteers are providing Exam-AIDs for 15 challenging courses this June, including: all Academic/University Maths, grade 10-12 University Sciences, grade 9 French and Geography, and grade 10 History.
“Keep it up! You helped out a ton and didn't make me hate Chem so much :) Thanks.”
– Anonymous Feedback Form, Grade 12 Chemistry
“Very good teacher: she was moving around, explaining things by using good analogies, study tools, etc. -very helpful!”
– Anonymous Feedback Form, Grade 12 Biology
About Laurier SOS
In 2004, Laurier SOS began at Wilfrid Laurier University as a student association. The initiative continues to grow and since its inception, SOS has tutored over 4000 Laurier undergraduate students and raised over
$200,000 for developmental projects in Kenya, Belize, Honduras, Peru, Costa Rica and Jamaica. In September 2007, Students Offering Support launched as a national charitable association and supports the development of 10 SOS university chapters.
For more information and to register for upcoming Exam-AID’s, visit
www.soshighschool.com
Laurier SOS: Students Offering Support
95 King St. N, Suite 205, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 2X3
http://www.lauriersos.com
http://www.soshighschool.com
519-498-6528
About SOS Exam-AID for High School Students
For a $20-$25 donation, students attend a three hour SOS Exam-AID review session, instructed by highly qualified and enthusiastic university students. All tutors demonstrate academic excellence and possess excellent teaching qualities ideal for high school students. Students are guided through the required course material and given the opportunity to ask questions. Following the review session, students receive a take-home package with additional questions and answers for studying purposes. These sessions are using Ontario’s standardized curriculum which enables all high school students in the region to attend.
NEWS RELEASE
May 2009
Pilot is ready to Launch: Successful SOS High School ‘Exam-AIDs’ continue to tutor Waterloo students