Does the City of San Carlos have a volunteer program?
Yes, the city staff welcomes the use of volunteers to carry out a number of very important functions:

• Tutoring of elementary or middle school students
• Assisting with special needs programs
• Assisting with senior programs
• Assisting with children programs
• Assisting with teen programs
• Assisting with keeping our parks beautiful
• Providing clerical support

The city provides insurance for its volunteers and greatly appreciates their contributions. To explore volunteer opportunities, call (650) 802-4421.

What is the San Carlos Healthy Cities Tutoring Program?
The San Carlos Healthy Cities Tutoring Program is a volunteer-based, tutor-mentor program offered to students in six San Carlos schools. Tutors provide one-on-one help to students from kindergarten through eighth grade at Arundel, Brittan Acres, Heather, and White Oaks elementary schools, as well as at Central and Tierra Linda middle schools. During the first four- and-a-half-years of its existence, more than 300 students have been matched with dedicated volunteers from the San Carlos community.

During the 2000-2001 school year, more than 160 volunteers worked in these schools and provided one-on-one assistance to nearly 170 students in need of a little extra help and support with their studies. An assessment in the areas of academic success and self-esteem is done when the student enters the program and again at the end of the school year. In June 2000, students involved in the program increased their academic scores by 43.2 percent and their self-esteem scores by 31 percent.

Volunteers receive an orientation and training and work once a week for about an hour with their student. Scheduling is very flexible. Click on the link "Volunteers Needed - Healthy Cities Project" on the San Carlos website if you would like to find out more about how to become a Healthy Cities volunteer tutor. For more information contact Donna Becht at (650) 594-2460 or e-mail her at mailto:DSBecht@aol.com.