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Overview
In 1988, a small group of women from Contra Costa County wanted to make a difference — Buena Vista Auxiliary was born. For the first six years, Buena Vista Auxiliary aided Assistance League of Diablo Valley in their many volunteer efforts. With this experience, they were inspired to start their own program focusing on children's literacy. In 1993, the Buena Vista Tutorial Program was launched at Meadow Homes Elementary School in Concord. Twelve children participated that first year. Since then, over 3,300 children in Contra Costa County have been served. Currently 10 elementary schools in the Mount Diablo Unified and Walnut Creek School Districts participate in our program. They include:
- Bel Air, Bay Point
- Cambridge, Concord
- Indian Valley, Walnut Creek
- Meadow Homes, Concord
- Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill
- Shore Acres, Bay Point
- Silverwood, Concord
- Sun Terrace, Concord
- Wren Avenue, Concord
- Ygnacio Valley, Concord
Buena Vista Auxiliary's tutorial program continues to fill a huge need as state and federal funds are cut from schools and language arts resources are dramatically decreased.
Program Benefits
The program targets children who read below grade level. The benefits include:
- Children who would otherwise fall through the cracks get reading assistance at no cost to schools or families.
- The participants' unique reading and learning needs are addressed with customized curriculum and a low student / tutor ratio (2:1).
- Credentialed teacher tutors can be immediately effective because they select participants they already know and teach in a familiar onsite setting.
- Significant improvements are made with the personalized attention participants receive in sixteen one-hour sessions over a four- to six-week period.
- Students gain confidence in showcasing their new reading skills to family and friends during celebration parties, gatherings that mark the end of the session.
- The program fosters continued interest in and access to reading and learning by providing each student with a bag of school supplies, including three books at the student's new reading level, at the end of the tutoring session.
- Teachers and school administrators stay focused on the children, while the auxiliary administers the program.
Results
As a direct result of the program, 97% of participating children show significant improvement in their reading skills, self-confidence and self-esteem. Buena Vista Auxiliary has received an Outstanding Service Award from the Mount Diablo Unified School District. Since 1993, when the Buena Vista Tutorial Program began, Buena Vista Auxiliary has:
- Served over 3,300 children in Contra Costa County
- Raised over 1 million dollars
- Provided over 26,000 hours of tutoring
- Given over 10,000 books to participants
- Volunteered 50,049 hours to support the program
Quotes on Children's Literacy & Buena Vista Tutorial Program
"With federal legislative requirements of No Child Left Behind and now Race to the Top, our schools are focused on continuing to strive to improve student performance. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program is a crucial component in our participating schools' intervention programs, affording many of our students the extra reading and learning support they need to meet academic standards.
- Rose Lock, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Elementary Education, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
"Buena Vista Tutorial Program is the district's most effective community partnership with the most direct impact on learning."
- Assistant Superintendent of Schools 2002-2008, MDUSD
"Over the last seven years, our API scores have gone from 395 to almost 700. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has had a lot to do with that success…It is truly transformational to see the increase in confidence and self-esteem in the tutored children."
- Carol Benninghoven, Liaison and Tutor, Ygnacio Valley Elementary
"The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has drastically improved the lives and futures of so many students. Our principal counts it as one of the best interventions we have… The students are thrilled and proud and learn to love reading instead of dreading it."
- Connie Miller, Liaison, Sun Terrace Elementary
"Madiha and Maddi love to read now! They cannot put their books down and often apologize for reading ahead. THIS IS EXCITING!"
- Erin Carson, Tutor, Indian Valley Elementary
"With just 16 hours of tutoring, Edgar went from reading at a level 4 to a level 14, his grade level!"
- Denise Murphy, Tutor, Sun Terrace Elementary
"Thank you for helping us in reading and for the books that you have given us. I appreciate you for all you have done for us."
- Edgar Rodriguez, Student, Shore Acres Elementary
"As a parent, my son was a struggling first grade reader. I was excited when his first grade teacher suggested the Buena Vista Tutorial Program as a reading intervention. My son loved reading after school with his teacher and the extra attention and instruction gave him a boost to bring him up to grade level. He is now a fifth grader and doing very well in all subject areas. I feel that the Buena Vista Tutorial Program bridged the gap and made my son the successful student that he is today."
- Parent, Indian Valley Elementary
"After seeing a friend's son benefit from the tutorial program, I joined Buena Vista Auxiliary. The students and parents are so proud! And, I am proud of the work we do."
- Karen Douglas, Philanthropic Programs Chairman, 2007-2009
Former English Teacher, BVA Member
"The bottom line is, this program works! Its success lies in the simplicity of allowing teachers to choose students they already are familiar with and use materials of their own choosing that will work with those particular students at a time mutually agreed upon by those involved. It's simple and it works."
- Eric Vandetta, Tutor and Liaison, Holbrook Elementary
"The Buena Vista Tutorial Program is our best choice for reading intervention."
- Elizabeth Ramsey, Liaison, Bel Air
"For the last six years, I have donated fine jewelry pieces ranging from diamond earrings, bracelets and necklaces. I do it because I believe in the importance of education and literacy for children. I admire this group for what they are doing for our community, and the impact they are having on the lives of our children in need."
- Brett Mortensen, ATTT Sponsor, B. Allan Jewelers
"Success: the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has afforded me the ability to help students meet success! As I continue my third year of Buena Vista Tutorial Program tutoring, the overlying success I see each season is CONFIDENCE. The students I tutor often lack the confidence a grade level reader holds. They struggle, feel lost and sometimes try to hide. Buena Vista Tutorial Program has allowed them to open up, believe in themselves, choose books they enjoy, laugh, and play games. All with their teacher! This creates a confidence and special connection to school and me, the teacher. Finally, all the students I have tutored have made significant gains in English language arts tests between third and fourth grade. Thank you Buena Vista Auxiliary!"
- Lisa Santos, Tutor, Indian Valley Elementary
"We went to the library to research non-profits doing important work in Contra Costa County. When we came across the Buena Vista Auxiliary … we were inspired by its impact on the children in this community, and wanted to help."
- Kelly Becerra, Manager, Danville Anthropologie
"I am just overwhelmed by how you women have made us feel. You obviously care so much about the students and teachers, and for that we are so thankful, especially at a time of so many budget cuts and pink slips. This is such wonderful support at a hard time. Thank you.
- Cindy Dashner, Tutor, Holbrook Elementary
"Buena Vista tutoring is a fantastic opportunity for students. I have seen excellent results in increased reading achievement and reading confidence because of the one-on-one support with the student's classroom teacher."
- Jennifer Voris, Principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary
"I truly believe the Buena Vista Tutorial Program has made a difference for our students. Working 2:1 has brought many of our students up to grade level."
- Felicia Stuckey-Smith, Principal of Sun Terrace Elementary
"The Buena Vista Tutorial Program has proven to improve reading mastery for our struggling students."
- Nancy Weatherford, Principal of Indian Valley Elementary
"We are very fortunate to have the Buena Vista Tutorial Program here at Holbrook Elementary School. The tutoring program allows our teachers to work with students who need extra support in reading, after school and during the summer months. The students who have received tutoring have made a lot of progress in their reading. The small group tutoring benefits the students who then are able to participate in class at their grade level rather than struggling and becoming frustrated. These kinds of programs are so important to students, especially with the limited resources we are faced with in education today."
- Sara Dieli, Principal, Holbrook Elementary
For more information about Buena Vista Auxiliary, please visit our website at diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.
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