School Mates Project at Brumby Elementary School

School Mates is a project with Brumby Elementary School that we've sustained for thirteen years. Brumby is a Title I school with a large population of ESOL students (26%), a high transiency rate (40%), and a large number of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch (80%). Project components include: 1) Books for students, 2) Once-a-Week Tutoring, 3) Read All Day, 4) Annual curriculum contribution, and 5) Career Day.

This year's time investment includes 4 Rotarians tutoring students for 68 hours, 2 club members who read out loud to classes for 4 hours on March 6th, 1 Rotarian who coordinated the Walton Interact Club tutoring training and involvement at Brumby, and 1 club member who provides a 1 hour per month savings club, serves as PTA Treasurer and also is on the School Council and Foundation Board as a community volunteer.

Financial support included $3,200 for specialized training for 4 teachers in "Reading is Essential for All People"(REAP), $500 for 100 Rotary backpacks for students without financial resources to purchase one, and a District 6900 Grant for $2,000 plus $500 from East Cobb Rotary for 1st grade mathematics books that are a Title I school Common Core requirement not provided by the school district. On November 19, 2014 the club's weekly meeting was held at Brumby, and first grade students met on-on-one with each Rotarian to show what they had learned by using the books that were purchased.

East Cobb Rotary believes in investing in these "at hope" students.