Ark Way Learning Center

Program Administrator Jennifer Higley-Chapman
Email: arkwaylc@greenhaven.org
630 Ark Way
Sacramento CA 95831
Office: (916) 422-8257
Fax: (916) 422-0813

Ark Way Learning Center

About Ark Way Learning Center

Founded in 1999 by members of Greenhaven Neighborhood Church, Ark Way Learning Center responds to the needs of 'latch key' and 'at-risk' elementary school children in the Pocket/Greenhaven area of Sacramento. The Learning Center seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment for students to acquire tools for educational development. Ark Way Learning Center facilitates individual and group tutoring activities to enhance children's academic skills and help them develop strong character to meet the challenges of life.

A successful partnership between Ark Way Learning Center, Greenhaven Neighborhood Church, Caroline Wenzel Elementary School, Wenzel/Bidwell Healthy Start, John F. Kennedy Sr. High School and AmeriCorps has provided a strong basis for an expanding after-school program serving local families who might not otherwise have access to excellent academic assistance outside of school. Students have been attending AWLC for four years, with overwhelmingly positive results for the children. Most notably, students at the Learning Center increased their reading fluency scores last year by up to four times that of their classmates who didn't attend the Learning Center.

Tutors and students work in small groups, giving individualized attention to students with no more than four students to one tutor; students who are easily distracted or need extra help receive priority for one-on-one tutoring when volunteer numbers allow. Last year's expanded program ran four days per week, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Students have snack, receive homework assistance, have a brief recreation, a 20-minute reading intervention, and character development or enrichment activities.

Enrollment

If your child is struggling in school, he or she might benefit from our program. We require that each child's teacher fill out a form verifying their at-risk status and detailing those areas where the student needs the most help. Next we would like to meet you and your child to have a brief conference, and sign an agreement and emergency forms.

If you would like to begin this process, please call us at (916) 422-8257.

In the 2003-2004 school year we will be asking for each student to contribute $30 per semester to help defer the costs of our program. Some families may qualify for a fee waiver.

Get Involved!

Interested in Volunteering? Come discover the joy in sharing your knowledge and being a mentor! Some university or high school students may receive credit for volunteering, and all will learn something valuable through this experience. Most of our tutors last year said they would return because they enjoyed tutoring!

Volunteers must: sign a volunteer agreement, including a promise to model a Christ-like attitude in service; commit to a regular schedule; attend a free training offered each semester; adults must be fingerprinted and screened.

We are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment - our policies and habits must reflect this goal. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.