Rotary's Learning Day by Day

Called Rotary's Learning Day by Day, this program consists of two main components. Previously called S.O.S., or Students for Other Students, the first component creates an opportunity for peer to peer tutoring at the junior and senior high school buildings in Perrysburg and has been very successful in the past. 672 tutoring sessions occurred last year in the junior high and an average of 6 students were tutored daily in the high school. Students demonstrated remarkable increases in grades, homework completion, organizational skills, and study habits. Prior to this school year, the S.O.S. program was generously supported by a private donor. Under this new partnership, the S.O.S. program is being re-branded under the Rotary's Learning Day by Day umbrella. The second phase of the program includes each elementary school and is focused on literacy. Reading skills are reinforced with at least 6 special needs students and other academically at-risk students multiple times per week outside of school hours. This part is based on the very successful Project MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) model (www.ohioprojectmore.org). This is a volunteer reading and mentoring project for students and has demonstrated statistically significant results over the past eleven years. According to a continuing independent evaluation conducted by Bowling Green State University's Center for Evaluation Services since 2000, Project MORE is significantly increasing reading levels of students with disabilities on both informal and standardized reading assessments. Independent research findings consistently report students make month for month reading level gains when they are read to and coached in a one-to-one setting. This would be the first time it is offered in Perrysburg. Rotary's Learning Day by Day Program is named to honor the memory of the late Stephen T. Day, past president of the Rotary Club of Perrysburg and District Governor of Rotary International and the work of his wife, Janet Day, a reading specialist at Frank Elementary School in Perrysburg. Mr. and Mrs. Day had served as Literacy Co-chairs for Rotary District 6600 for several years. Mr. Day, who died on July 11, 2010 after a brief illness, would have turned 62 years old today. Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. The Rotary Club of Perrysburg's membership is approximately 125 men and women who are committed to serving our community and the larger world. For more information on the Rotary Club of Perrysburg, visit www.pburgrotary.com.