Harrow School Reading Buddies
Harrow School is a valued partner in meeting the needs of children and families in our neighbourhood, and over the years Bethel has developed a number of ways to support the work of the school, principally through the reading program.
Volunteers from Bethel are partnered with an elementary school student from Harrow School. These buddies meet weekly, offering students a chance to develop their reading skills with support and encouragement from their adult buddy.
On Wednesday afternoons, if you were to stop in at Bethel, you would see pairs of heads scattered throughout the church sanctuary. In most cases, one of these belongs to a student in grade 4 to 6 at Harrow School, while the other belongs to a volunteer from Bethel. The sanctuary is filled with the sound of quiet voices, as the children read aloud to their reading buddies in the late afternoon sunshine. Over the course of several months, as these buddies meet on a weekly basis, not only do the children become noticeably more confident in their reading skills, but the buddies have the opportunity to get to know one another. They often develop friendships that end up blessing both of the buddies in beautiful and unexpected ways.
Students are identified to participate in this program by the teachers at Harrow School, and are accompanied on the short walk from the school to the church each week by school staff. Before they leave to return to the school, they conclude their session with a light snack prepared by the church.
Volunteer reading buddies must be willing to complete criminal record checks and child abuse registry screening.
Beyond the reading program, other initiatives have included hosting a cookie reception in the dining hall after the Harrow School Winter Concert for students and their families, and providing snack kits to the school to be distributed to students in need of additional nutrition throughout the school year.
