By: Lily Mendes
With the dramatic changes of the pandemic, many Redwood Students have struggled to receive the same assets that in person school provides. Student Tutoring that was administered in the library before and after school hours, was a major resource for students to use in order to maintain their grades and develop a greater understanding in their classes.
Along with this, incoming Seniors that have started their college applications, have lost a lot of access to help with their college and career goals, compared to when school was in session. The XL program has continued to provide these services, through their online website at https://redwoodxl.wixsite.com/redwoodxlhighschool.
The XL Program Site Director, Christian Araujo, states that the conditions of the program have changed “how we operate not just at the Redwood XL level, but at the ProYouth level.” However, the Redwood XL Program Staff have been “ inviting different universities and trade schools to hold virtual sessions for Redwood students through Zoom,” ever since virtual school has started.
Araujo’s first priority is to follow the Visalia Unified School District guidelines, in order to maintain the safety of all Redwood Students, and not start the in person sessions, until safe to do so. In this situation Araujo’s goal “as Site Director is to make sure all students at Redwood still have the same access to success as they would in person.”
Maria Munoz, the XL program College and Careers Ambassador, along with the Program Leader II, Houa Vang, have developed the website today, offering services and reminders of tutoring sessions with the XL student tutors. Within the website there is information involving “college virtual informationals this semester, job interview workshops and resume building Workshops,” says Munoz.
The XL program also offers after graduation services for Seniors, that include “assistance in applying to college, scholarships, and job search,” Munoz explains. Financial aid, personal statements, and career development are important aspects that the program supports students with.
Tutoring is free to all students through the program, and helps with all subjects. Student tutors are juniors or seniors that attend Redwood. Jacqueline Marquez ‘21, is a senior XL Student tutor at Redwood, who mostly tutors math 1-4 and Calculus. Marquez expresses that “zoom will be just as effective for tutoring,” and that all “strategies we use can be replicated using the whiteboard feature.”
In the midst of the pandemic, the XL program still supports students with academic help, and provides resources for future career goals.
lily Mendes
Lily Mendes '21 is a senior at Redwood High School and is a second year member of the Redwood Gigantea. Outside of the Redwood Gigantea, Lily is apart of CSF, Spanish Honors Society, Key Club, and Interact. Lily also has taken 5 COS classes, including three her senior year.
You can reach her by email at Lily.me2993@vusd.us
Tags: Redwood, xl program, xl tutors
