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Argonaut Elementary School of Saratoga recently received a $2,000 grant from the Citigroup Foundation, a division of Citibank of Saratoga. The grant will fund the One on One tutorial program that will pay for a teacher to provide individual student assistance in reading, according to Jackie Herem and Jonathan Chan, client financial analysts with Citibank. The representatives presented Argonaut Principal Sue Brooks with a $2,000 check at a Nov. 7 school-wide assembly. Brooks said first- and second-grade students will benefit from this grant.
"Research shows that teaching the students one on one helps them feel more secure," Brooks said.
Argonaut Parent-Teacher Association President Katherine Tseng said because of budget cuts from the state and district, the school improvement plan was eliminated. SIP includes categorical funding for special programs to help those students struggling with the school curriculum—for example, in reading.
"This is something we didn't have the money for, and we really appreciate it," Tseng said. "Sometimes it really makes the difference in a child's self-esteem."
Brooks said another upcoming activity at Argonaut includes the "Mix It Up" lunch on Nov. 18 for fourth- and fifth-graders, sponsored by Teaching Tolerance magazine. The goal of the lunch is to allow students to sit with someone new instead of the same people they sit with every day, while encouraging acceptance of diversity. The activity is being organized by the student council and adviser Kelly Kannberg.
In addition, Saratoga Elementary School has applied and received about $7,000 in grants, said Principal Mary Barbara Zorio, to help compensate for programs and supplies that have been cut or reduced. Included in that $7,000 is the $2,000 grant the school received from Citibank on Nov. 12 to fund the Oak Street buddies literacy program, which is similar to the One on One tutorial program. Zorio said Oak Street buddies aides students in grades K3 who do not qualify for special education but still need assistance in reading.
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