Tutoring & Mentoring

In addition to one on one and small group support, On Your Mark focuses on encouraging participants to expand their circle of support by exposing them to University students and business professionals. It aims to encourage youth to become familiar with post-secondary settings and works with parents to provide information and support regarding the school system.

Some of the additional activities are: Adopt a student Day and Transition workshops for Grades 7 and 12.

How does the program work?

The program provides one-to-one and small group tutoring for students in elementary and high school, grades 1 to 12.

Volunteer tutors are recruited and matched with students considered “at risk”. Tutors and students meet after school and/or Saturday mornings for a minimum of one hour, tutoring sessions are organized around the needs of the individual student- with a focus on literacy and math.

Apart from academics, the program encourages discussion and relationship building between tutor and student. Many of our tutors are also of Portuguese-speaking/ Spanish-speaking descent and many attending post-secondary education, they are role-models to these students and have helped in increasing students’ self-esteem, which have lead to positive changes in students’ attitude towards school and more regular completion of homework, as noted by parents.

The tutoring program typically starts in late October/early November depending on the number of registration forms received. The program runs until the end of May. Parents are contacted by phone once their child is matched with a tutor, in regards to the date their child(ren) will start and their assigned tutoring day for the full school year. Please be aware that all students have various start dates due to scheduling and tutor availability.

Who is eligible for the program?

In order to qualify for the program, students must:

• Be of Portuguese speaking descent OR be of Spanish speaking descent
• Be enrolled full time in school in grades 1 – 12
• Complete and submit a registration form signed by a parent or guardian
• Commit to meeting with a tutor for a minimum of 1.5 hours per week

What must parents do to be part of the program?

To qualify for the program, parents must:

• Attend a short Orientation where the registration forms will be submitted in person, or complete an orientation online and submit your registration forms via fax, scan/email or in person at the WWCC offices.
• Attend a minimum of one Parent workshop over the course of the school year.

How do I register my child for the program?

First, parent/guardian, student and teacher must complete a Student Registration Form. This form is available from your school, online at the link below or contact us to get a registration form from our office. The parent/guardian must then attend an Orientation Session in order to hand in the completed registration form in person to one of the program Coordinators or staff. They may also complete an orientation session online, see the link below, and submit your registration forms via fax or email. Please call the office to make sure your registration form was received if not submitting in person. You will be contacted BY PHONE, and then a Letter to Start, once a tutor becomes available for your child, students may start ONLY when contacted by the Program Coordinator and given a start date.