SACRED HEART OF JESUS EDUCATOIN CENTER GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

The Center provides tutoring services to students of low-income families that are at academic risk due to many factors, including a lack of an English-speaking household or access to educational assistance programs.read more…)

Jamie began the afterschool homework program at the Sacred Heart Education Center in first grade. His family does not speak English. Communication barriers caused him to struggle academically.

“Our objective was to focus on his English reading and writing skills,” said Betsy Preciado, the Center’s director who is also a retired teacher and administrator.

“Jamie is now in the sixth grade. He has improved beyond his grade level and is an excellent writer. Just like his fellow students, Jamie is constantly encouraged by the sense of accomplishment that accompanies academic achievement. He aspires to be a famous author, lawyer or even a priest.”

The Education Center at Sacred Heart began as the vision of Father Mateo Sheedy. His efforts and dedication led to funding from the City of San Jose and the start of what was known as the Homework Program. After Father Sheedy’s death, funding cuts threatened to end the program. Sacred Heart stepped in, along with the Catholic Community Foundation and many generous donors who raised funds to keep the doors open.

The Center provides tutoring services to students of low-income families that are at academic risk due to many factors, including a lack of an English-speaking household or access to educational assistance programs. It also offers free English courses to parents who desire to improve the homework environment of their children by gaining the knowledge they need to assist in English reading and writing.

The majority of the Center’s tutors are college students from the Arrupe Partnerships for Community program at Santa Clara University. Others are neighborhood youth who donate their time to help their younger peers.

Take for example, Ryan. Ryan has excelled academically and studies at Bellarmine in San Jose. He is busy with college preparatory courses and volunteer work with his high school youth group but continues to come in to help out at the Education Center nearly every day.

“All the students love him. He is a great role model and tutor,” Betsy states. “He enjoys our students and sees the needs of the community. The seeds of service are planted firmly in this young man.”

Many of the Center’s graduates have gone on to receive bachelor’s degrees from Santa Clara University, San Jose State University and other noteworthy institutions. They are now working in the community, giving back with compassion to the neighbors who nurtured them as students.

”Former students always remember our program,” added Betsy. “Many continue to volunteer and are resources to us. Our program builds wonderful stepping stones to success. They are thankful for this.”

Witnessing the impact that the program has had upon student achievement and collaboration between student, tutor and parent has inspired Betsy to plan for the Center’s future success stories: “Our next goal is to provide a basic computer training course.”

You can help the Sacred Heart of Jesus Education Center and our community youth achieve their goals by donating to the Parish Outreach Fund at the Catholic Community Foundation. Please visit www.cfoscc.org for more information.