HOSTS Program Honors Volunteer Reading Tutors at Annual Luncheon

More than 50 businesses and other organizations are providing at least four employees to spend time mentoring young readers in the MSD of Wayne Township this school year.

The district honored these “Premier Partners” for the HOSTS program at a luncheon on Thursday, August 16.

HOSTS – which stands for Help One Student To Succeed – is entering its 17th year in MSD Wayne. More than 1,000 volunteers in the HOSTS program spend one hour a week working with two elementary students to help sharpen their reading and writing skills.

The time spent by these volunteers makes a big difference for the second and third grade students in the HOSTS program. More than half of the second graders who were in the program at least six months advanced five or more reading levels during the 2017-18 school year.

“The benefits of HOSTS mentoring go beyond academic achievement for our students,” said MSD Wayne Superintendent Jeff Butts. “HOSTS enhances students’ social skills, improves school attendance, and connects students to the wider community.”

Mentors say they also benefit from the time they spend with students in HOSTS.

“HOSTS mentors and students experience wonder, truth, love, and security, all while learning to read,” said volunteer mentor John Holsapple, director of communication arts at Chapel Rock Christian Church. “I volunteer as a HOSTS mentor to make a difference in my community, one student at a time.”

If you’d like to become a volunteer mentor for the HOSTS program, you may contact HOSTS Lead Teacher Tammy Butts at 317-988-8675 or tammy.butts@wayne.k12.in.us