HOSTS Program Keeps Volunteer Mentors Updated on Plans for Return to Classroom

The MSD of Wayne Township’s HOSTS program is one of the most important ways we bring our schools and community together.

HOSTS, which stands for Help One Student to Succeed, is a tutoring program in which volunteer mentors help second and third graders learn to read. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the district is not currently allowing visitors in its buildings. That includes HOSTS volunteer mentors.

The MSD Wayne HOSTS team recently provided an update on plans to get mentors back in the schools.

“We were hopeful that we would get to welcome mentors back to our buildings at the end of fall break on Monday, October 26,” the team said in a letter to mentors. “Unfortunately, we are still not able to have visitors in our school buildings, so we won’t be able to move ahead with this plan.”

The HOSTS team will reach out to volunteer mentors again in December with an update on the outlook for the second semester. “We will not be welcoming visitors into our schools until we have clearance from the Marion County Health Department that it’s in the best interest of all in the community,” the team wrote. “We miss you, and look forward to seeing you working side by side with our students in the future.”

In the meantime, HOSTS instructors in each elementary building are working with students on literacy.

“HOSTS is certainly not the same without all of you, but we are happy to get to do what we love – teach kids!” the team wrote to its mentors.

The HOSTS program continues to recruit volunteer mentors. If you’d like to explore becoming a HOSTS mentor, please call 317-988-8675 or reach out by email to lara.blomberg@wayne.k12.in.us. To learn more about the program, visit https://hosts.wayne.k12.in.us.

ABOUT THE MSD OF WAYNE TOWNSHIP
The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township provides multiple pathways to success for more than 16,000 students, preschool through high school. Located on the west side of Indianapolis, MSD Wayne works in partnership with the Wayne Township community to help every learner achieve excellence. To learn more about MSD Wayne, visit www.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/msdwaynetownship/ and Twitter @WayneTwpSchools and @WayneTwpSuper.