By Solomiya Syvyk
Literary Editor

Each year Neshaminy High School presents its students with new and greater opportunities in order to assure that everyone is capable of achieving their set goals through the academic programs and co-curricular activities the school was able to offer.

Neshaminy has offered before-school academic help since the beginning of this year and after school since September 2012, from Monday through Thursday.

Although, beginning in January 2014, the educational support system has expanded even further, with the faculty offering academic help two Saturdays each month.

“Due to other obligations such as work, sports or other activities, many students are unable to attend the after or before school help. I believe Saturday [tutoring] may be more convenient for them to focus on their school work,” Sean Daly said.

This idea was suggested by the Superintendent Robert Copeland. A total of ten teachers volunteered after Principal Rob McGee emailed the educators, offering each a compensated position if they were available for the needed hours and advertised the idea on the school’s website, announcements and social media.

There are two English educators, Melissa Bauerle and Sean Daly, David Ferrara for Social Studies, and Rob McGee, Kelly Gerber, and Joe Greco for Mathematics.

For world languages, Maria Perez has taken the spot for Spanish and Joanne Robb, for French. Also, as of February, Connie Welke, a science teacher from Sandburg Middle School, will be available to tutor Biology.

There have been three sessions, with the next on Feb. 22. Since this is a new concept, many students are not aware of it, the attendance has not yet been overwhelming, allowing the enactment of the walk-in prepared policy.

“There were seven students on the first Saturday and 18 students the second Saturday,” Ferrara said. Nevertheless, the outcome has been gradually escalating and is expected to grow further as the year carries on; this may lead to sessions having to be scheduled through appointments.

“With Keystones approaching in May for sophomores, I expect the number to increase,” Daly said.

The tutoring sessions last from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the library. Participants must provide their own transportation. Also each participant must enter and exit through the HUB doors.

Saturday tutoring has already proved to be beneficial. “I was struggling in two subjects and when I took the chance of going last weekend, I was able to sit down individually with the teachers and finally understand the material,” junior Yoonjung Kim said. “Even if it wasn’t completely one-on-one help, I was able to comprehend more clearly with a small group rather than with a whole classroom filled with peers.”

“As it’s a new program, we might hit some bumps in the road when certain teachers are unavailable, but as of right now, things are looking pretty good,” Robb said.