By Aiden Wacksman

At the beginning of September, members of Oak Hall’s National Honor Society (NHS) began tutoring Lower and Middle School students during after-school hours. This program was designed to bring Oak Hall students together, as Lower and Middle School students can build relationships with their Upper School counterparts. 

 “The idea was brought up back in March,” said Assistant Director for Summer & Auxiliary Programs Danielle Tripp. After visiting other renowned programs across the country, Tripp along with Oak Hall Director of Auxiliary and Operations Jeff Malloy, noticed that these programs had very efficient study halls that included tutors. “There are often many Lower School students in study hall, and to give them personal one-on-one interaction is really beneficial,” Tripp explained. She added that one of the positives of this program is that Upper School students can assist younger students and give back to the community. “My favorite part of this program is that it unites our school, and I think that the program will continue to grow as it develops,” Tripp stated happily.

• 

Fourth grade student Reagan B. believes that these tutoring sessions are very helpful. “I think it’s a good idea because it bonds the Upper School kids with the Lower School kids, and they can form a friendship,” she exclaimed.

Kristin Wilson, the NHS sponsor for Oak Hall, believes that this program is not only beneficial for NHS members, but also does a great job of uniting the school. “These tutoring sessions promote the idea that we are ‘one school’,” she said enthusiastically. According to Wilson, these sessions began in early September, and occur Monday through Thursday afternoons from 3:35 to 4:45. Lower and Middle School students can get the homework help they need from Upper School NHS members, while finding new role models to look up to. “My favorite part of this program is that it brings students from around the school together,” Wilson reiterated.