In Deer Park High School’s ongoing Study Buddy program, high schoolers in the World Language Honor Society volunteer their time to tutor English language learning elementary school students at the Deer Park Public Library. Some children being tutored are receiving support for their world language classes, but the majority of the WLHS volunteer tutors are using their language skills to communicate with the families of the district’s children who are learning English and to provide these younger students with reading and writing support.

“The Study Buddy program is just one way students in the World Language Honor Society fulfill their community service time,” explained Gina Palasciano, districtwide curriculum associate of world languages and ESL. “It is a program we have had in place for nearly three years, and both the high school students and their Study Buddy friends really enjoy it.”