Sprout and S.T.E.M. partners with The Met School

Jhanavi Kapadia, a volunteer tutor and University of Vermont alumna ('20), poses for a photo at the conclusion of an in-person tutoring session.

September marked the return of after-school tutoring following an eighteen-month suspension of in-person services due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Over the previous months, Sprout and S.T.E.M. has worked with Nancy Diaz, principal of a nationally-acclaimed regional high school network—the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, or "Met" for short—to provide incoming freshmen with ten weeks of academic support in remedial mathematics throughout the fall.

In interviews with students during the first session, it became clear that the burden of distance learning from the preceding year presented challenges for those in attendance at the Providence campus, with many stating they felt "left behind" and uncomfortable seeking help. Students unanimously voiced frustration at their circumstances, but also happiness with returning to in-person learning and the opportunity to reunite with their peers and teachers.

Weston de Lomba, the Vice President and Tutoring Coordinator of Sprout and S.T.E.M., has been joined by a rotating cast of devoted volunteers to help deliver these crucial services and foster a positive learning environment. Activities in these sessions included a review of weekly lessons and curriculum, additional help with homework, and creative games that reinforced comprehension.