General McLane High School students offer tutoring, mentoring to younger students during at-home instruction

General McLane School District has created a new program that allows General McLane High School seniors to tutor and support middle and elementary students having difficulties with at-home instruction.

The new program, called GM Thrives, allows high school seniors, some looking to go into the education field after graduation, to form virtual relationships with younger students to tutor or mentor them.

School buildings are shut down throughout the state of Pennsylvania through the end of the 2020-2021 school year in response to COVID-10, but General McLane School District began planned online instruction for all students on March 30.

Daniel Kane, an instructor at General McLane High School and project coordinator, is developing the program and matching the students together.

The seniors that are volunteering include members of the Education Academy at the high school and members of the High School Principal’s Cabinet, an outreach organization that works to problem-solve issues in the school and aims to create a positive environment within the district.

Kane has about 15 students that are requesting tutoring. He is sending out emails to families Thursday afternoon with Zoom meeting dates to introduce them to their tutor. Tutoring sessions will begin on Monday.