Albuquerque Reads program needs volunteers Published Sept. 9, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Shaun Phipps Space Development Test Group KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- The Albuquerque Reads program is ramping up for the 2008-09 school year. The program involves community volunteers tutoring disadvantaged Kindergartners on reading skills, once a week for about an hour. These kids are at Title-1 schools (meaning the majority of students come from impoverished backgrounds), and fewer than 5 percent enter Kindergarten reading at grade level. This is significant since statistics have shown that an early ability to read is a key foundation for academic success. Students unable to read at grade level by the third grade are much more likely to drop out during or before high school and continue in the cycle of poverty throughout their lives. This year, Team Kirtland is being asked to fill a crucial and unique role in Albuquerque Reads. Wherry Elementary, just outside the Gibson Gate, has traditionally had the toughest tutoring slots to fill. Here's how you can help: You can sign-up individually or with a team of 2-4 individuals to fill one tutoring session a week. Volunteering as a team allows members with high operations tempos, hectic schedules or upcoming deployments to share the commitment on a rotating or as-available basis. Only one person from the team needs to be available each week for the hour-long tutoring session. The program is open to all Kirtland personnel: military, civilian or contractor. Options for tutoring slots at Wherry Elementary (pick 1): · Mondays, 9:50-11:05 a.m. · Tuesdays, 9:50-11:05 a.m. · Thursdays, 9:50-11:05 a.m. Select a training session to attend during the month of September, and begin their tutoring sessions each week from October through early May. Training days at Wherry Elementary (pick 1), all times are 12:30-3:30 p.m. · Friday, Sept. 12 · Friday, Sept. 19 · Friday, Sept. 26 · Begin weekly tutoring sessions (rotating among team members if applicable) from October through early May If you would like to volunteer or have questions call or e-mail 2nd Lt. Shaun Phipps at 853-6741 shaun.phipps@kirtland.af.mil.