In an article for the New York Times titled, The Families That Can’t Afford Summer, DJ Dell’Antonia wrote about the reality many low-income American families face during the 10- to 11-week summer vacation. “For most parents,” DJ writes, “summer, that beloved institution, is a financial and logistical nightmare.” One reason why summer break is a nightmare for low-income families is its length: Summer vacation in America lasts longer than school breaks in many other developed…
Families can view ISEE test scores before sending them to schools. In another change to the ISEE test, families are now given a chance to view their student’s test scores before sending them to a school. Students no longer have to designate a school to receive their scores when they register for the test. Schools will not be notified how many times a student takes the test. Instead, they will receive a full score report of…
Project Giving Kids, a nonprofit organization located in Los Angeles and Massachusetts, connects busy children and their families to enjoyable and meaningful age-appropriate service activities. Boston Tutoring Services recently spoke with Molly Yuska, Founder of Project Giving Kids, about her work at the organization. Boston Tutoring Services: How did your organization get started? Molly Yuska: Our organization formed in direct response to my work in the nonprofit sector and my work as a mother. As a…
Students may take the ISEE more than once. According to ERBlearn.org, students taking the ISEE test may register “up to three times in a 12-month admission cycle” starting this August 2016. This is a major change because the ISEE test was previously a one-time only test. Students may now register in all three seasons of ISEE testing: August-November (Fall), December-March (Winter), or April-July (Spring/Summer). Because most deadlines for applications occur around December 1st, students will…
The Richardson Middle School in Dracut, Massachusetts has gotten a little bit greener. Built in 2001, the Richardson Middle School included a greenhouse classroom in its design, but the space was never used as an operating greenhouse until this year. Over the winter, Richardson Principal Ms. McGuiness decided that the students were finally going to use the greenhouse. She emptied out the classroom, which had been being used as storage, and she contacted Bob Berube,…
School is almost out for the summer and your student may be excited to have some time off, it is also important to spend this time wisely. One way to do this is by taking some time off to volunteer and give back to your community. Volunteering is something which everyone benefits from and it helps build character, integrity and compassion. Below are a few places families and young adults can volunteer in Massachusetts. 1.Elderly…
“Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth to age 12, living in low- income and homeless situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.” Boston Tutoring Services recently spoke with Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit donation service located in Boston, Philadelphia, and Concord. Megan Collins, Family Philanthropy Coordinator at Cradles to…
Photo by Olichel College acceptance is a remarkable accomplishment, and the experience is truly one-of- a-kind. For many young adults, it’s a rite of passage: It’s a time when you’re making your own decisions, opening yourself to a new world of horizons, and getting a taste of what it really means to be self-sufficient. But this wonderful chapter of life doesn’t come cheaply, and many students are choosing to balance their studies with full- or part-time employment to…
