wrctutoringprogram

Washington Reading Corps

"The 'ripple effect' of the Washington Reading Corps has flowed out and lifted up thousands of young people and their tutors, just as it has strengthened families' connections to their communities."

--Former Gov. Gary Locke

Serving four elementary schools in the Bremerton School District

WRC Tutoring Programs

Blog

Read stories of service from AmeriCorps members throughout Bremerton

Helpful Links

For more information about the Washington Reading Corps throughout the state
The National Institute for Literacy provides tips on how to read to your children at home
The Florida Center for Reading and Research provides information and activities for teachers, tutors and parents about reading development
Starfall helps elementary students develop reading skills through interactive games and activities
The Bremerton School District has information about each school within BSD
For more information about AmeriCorpsand how to apply to programs across the state and country
The Kitsap Regional Library provides live homework help and resources for students and parents
To find other volunteer opportunities in Bremerton
Community Youth Services runs the Washington Reading Corps in Bremerton

Google Map Locations

Community Partners

WRC would like to thank the following companies for their donations toward our community service projects:

WRC Events

The WRC in Bremerton always has something going on whether it's at one of the four sites or out in the community.

Here's what to look forward to in April:

June 13 -- Naval Avenue Field Day: We'll play games, hang out, eat all kinds of fun food and have a blast

June 19 -- Last day of school for the Bremerton School District: Elementary schools will get out at 12:35 p.m.

Become a WRC Member

Are you passionate about seeing children reach their full potential? Do you feel like you have something to offer in the field of education and community development? WRC members form a vital part of the communities they work in, helping improve them through their work in elementary schools and on service projects. Few jobs allow you to make such a difference in your community while helping you build the skills you need to be successful in whatever you choose to pursue. To apply, go here and fill out an application.

Benefits of being a WRC member

Education Award -- For serving 10 1/2 months, members receive an education award of $4,725, which they can put toward college loans or tuition.
Get Paid -- Members are paid a stipend every two weeks.
Build Your Résumé -- By the time your year of service is done, your résumé will read like an employer's dream.
Health Insurance and Child Care Benefits -- Members have comprehensive health insurance and are given money for child care.
Network -- There are a host of other people who want to make a difference in this world just like you. Being a member will help you connect with these people so that you can continue your work in community development and education when your year is done.

For more information about applying to be a Washington Reading Corps member, contact Allen Stanton at 1-888-698-1816 ext. 161.

WRC's Mission

WRC aims to improve the reading abilities of students in the Bremerton School District and across the state through research-based tutoring methods.

Members work to help form effective collaborations between all members of the community in order to support students on their way to becoming better readers.

WRC's Objectives

Tutoring

WRC members and volunteer tutors work one-on-one and in small groups with elementary school students to give them the skills they need to become capable readers who have positive opinions and behaviors toward reading.

Volunteer Recruitment

WRC works to recruit and maintain volunteer tutors at each site who are committed to helping students achieve at grade level. Volunteers tutor in one-on-one and small-group tutoring sessions throughout the day, working with the grade they choose. Volunteers are trained and given all the skills they need to be successful in their noble mission to help the youth in Bremerton.

Family and Community Involvement

WRC is committed to involving all members of the community in the development of its youth. By planning and implementing family-involvement events, families have a chance to take part in their children's learning, taking home practical skills and fun activities for them to work on with students. Check out the events WRC programs are putting on at their schools and in the community by clicking on the individual sites or looking at the event listings.

Contacts

For more information about the WRC program at each site in Bremerton and how to volunteer, click on the links to the left. Here's how to contact the WRC volunteer coordinator at each site.

Rebecca Butorac

Armin Jahr Elementary School

800 Dibb St., 98310

e-mail: arminjahrwrc@gmail.com

office: 360.473.4187

Rhonda Ramirez

Naval Avenue Early Learning Center

900 Olympic Ave., 98312

e-mail: rhonda.ramirez@bsd.wedntet.edu

office: 360.473.4489

Ana Bicanin

View Ridge Elementary School

3250 Spruce St., 98310

e-mail: viewridgewrc@gmail.com

office: 360.473.4508

Zachary Vaughn

West Hills Elementary School

520 National Ave. S., 98312

e-mail: westhillswrc@gmail.com

office: 360.473.4671

What Else Do We Do?

Civic Engagement

In addition to working in elementary schools in Bremerton, members help train the future leaders of communities through their work as a civic engagement facilitators.

WRC members lead groups of youth through a curriculum that helps them design their own community service project. Over the two months that members facilitate lessons, students choose an issue to address in the community and then plan a project that addresses that issue.

By connecting students with their community and the problems they see in them every day, WRC members aim to empower youth to take an active role in improving Bremerton.

This year, there are two Civic Engagement groups in Bremerton. One of the groups has decided to address domestic violence with a service project by raising awareness about the issue in the community. You can check out the Website they designed here. The other group decided to focus on helping animals in Bremerton. They held a donation drive for local companies and shelters. The first project will culminate during National Volunteer Week from April 28-May 2, and the second one will end during National AmeriCorps Week from April 7-11.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Each year, AmeriCorps members from across the country take a pledge to make MLK Jr. Day a day on, not a day off. By organizing their own service projects, WRC members strive each year to make a difference in their communities. This year WRC members in Bremerton planned and implemented two service projects on MLK Jr. Day.

The Career Resource and Job Recruitment Event at Kitsap Community Resources brought job-training organizations, employers and educational representatives together in one location so that Bremerton citizens could find and receive the information they needed about jobs and opportunities in the community. More than 60 people attended the event, which included representatives from Goodwill, the Navy, Starbucks, Orchard Foods, Olympic College representatives and Work Source Kitsap County.

Through a comprehensive donation drive, WRC members were able to collect more than 600 total items to donate to St. Vincent's de Paul and the Bremerton Foodline. From blankets, diapers and baby formula to non-perishable food items and toiletry articles, members ran donation sites at several locations throughout Kitsap County such as QFC, Central Market, Albertson's and Safeway.