GMS HOSTS Staff
HOSTS offers special help for Grulla Middle School students
LA GRULLA - One-on-one tutoring has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to educate a person.
Some Grulla Middle School students should expect that personal service this year again in the Help One Student to Succeed Program.
Last year, according to HOSTS teacher Yolanda Saenz, 48 GMS students in grades 6-8 received help from nearly 100 HOSTS volunteers and 12 student members of the Peers Assistance and Leadership (PAL) program. Together, mentors spent more than 500 volunteer hours helping GMS students.
Saenz encourages former mentors and community members to volunteer once again this year for HOSTS, a national program with documented success.
At GMS, HOSTS students spend one class period a day with a mentor, if available, working on improving their skills in language arts (reading and writing) or math. HOSTS classes help the students on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) tests.
The work has paid off, Saenz said. Statistics show that 66 percent of HOSTS students passed the math section, 62 percent the reading and 40 percent both tests. Since HOSTS students were recommended for the program because of failing one or more sections of the TAAS, it is clear to see that HOSTS works.
However, Saenz said there are not enough mentors to adequately serve the students' needs.
"No, most definitely,'' she said. "Every student needs to have a mentor, at least one hour a week.''
Because of the lack of mentors, many times students are placed into small groups for learning instead of the preferred one-on-one basis.
Saenz emphasized that volunteer mentors don't need any special training to be successful in HOSTS.
"There are no requirements,'' she said, "except the willingness to give of themselves.''
"That's the requirement,'' HOSTS Assistant Rosario Gonzalez added. "Everything is prepared for the mentors and the students, so all (mentors) have to do is come in and sit by the students and encourage them.''
Gonzalez, beginning her seventh year with the program, said mentors are not left alone with students but are constantly monitored and helped.
"Mentors will not be left alone with students,'' she stressed. "That is one of the reasons some don't volunteer. But there will always, always be at least one or two HOSTS teachers in the room with the mentors.
Besides Saenz and Gonzalez, HOSTS Assistant Rolando Reyes is available to help. Reyes, like Saenz, is in his second year with the program. Saenz was at GMS as a language arts teacher for 15 years before moving into HOSTS. She also sponsored PALS and Valley Youth students.
HOSTS classes are small - usually less than 10 students - and convenient. Mentors can choose to come in whenever they can on a scheduled basis.
Last year, HOSTS students spent half their time in reading and half in math. This year students will spend all their time on either math or reading, and not mix the subjects, Saenz said. "This allows for more continuity,'' she said. "In order to help them better we want them here in math everyday instead of just two days a week.''
Saenz credits Joel Salinas, Rio Grande City CISD's federal programs director and HOSTS coordinator, with much of the program's success.
"He has been a major supporter always,'' she said. "He has an open door policy for us.
Saenz also thanks GMS' new administrators - Principal Alfonso Solis and Assistant Principal Ofelia Saenz - for their support and help.
Please call (956) 487-8579 to volunteer to be a HOSTS mentor.
GMS' HOSTS program, which received an exemplary rating last year, also has a page on the Internet. It's home page is https://www.angelfire.com/tx/rgccisd/gmshosts.html.
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