Thirteen years ago, a small tutoring and mentoring program called Homework Helpers began at Midlothian High School, which was created by Ginger Pridgen.
“I started Homework Helpers Tutoring/Mentoring program in the fall of 2011, with the help of my daughter, who was a junior at Midlothian High at the time,” Prigden said.
The idea was simple but impactful: connect high school students with elementary-aged children to provide one-on-one academic support and foster meaningful relationships.
“My daughter recruited her friends to become tutors while I recruited elementary children living in the Suburban Village Mobile Home community to join the program as students,” Pridgen said. “Many of the children living in the mobile home community, located at the intersection of Robious Rd. and Midlothian Tnpk, have parents who do not speak English and are not able to provide help with homework.”
The program started modestly, with 17 tutor-student pairs meeting one day a week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it had grown significantly, meeting twice weekly with 36 pairs each day—a total of 72 tutor-student pairs. While the pandemic necessitated scaling back, the program now runs with 50 pairs split between Mondays and Tuesdays, meeting from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Stony Point Church on Buford Road. High school tutors work with the same child each week, assisting with homework, preparing for tests, and engaging in learning activities tailored to the student’s needs.
“By working with the same tutor/student each week, the pair form a strong bond of trust and friendship,” Pridegen said.
One of the highlights of the year is the program’s annual Christmas party, which is a festive celebration for the tutors and students. They enjoyed pizza and cookies before rotating through various activity stations. They made Christmas cards, “Grinch Kabob” fruit skewers, and picture frames with photos of themselves and their tutor.
“This year each child received a Santa hat and jingle bell to wear, as well as a plush elf and Christmas pencil,” Pridgen said. “The highlight for the children is receiving a special gift from their tutors at the end of the party.”
The spring session for Homework Helpers starts on Feb. 10, and applications can be found in the main office. This is a great opportunity for community service, enhancing college applications, and making a difference in a child’s life.
“The bonds formed between tutors and students are truly special,” Pridegen said. “Both the high schoolers and the younger children gain so much from this.”
