On April 11, Ruby Drive Elementary School concluded the final session of its 8-week LIT UP literacy enrichment program, which took place during the school’s Friday CASA sessions. This initiative was led by Valencia High School junior,Evelyn Yao and a dedicated group of student volunteers from Valencia High School, who committed their time each week to work with first-grade students on building foundational literacy skills.
At the outset of the program, Yao expressed initial concerns about student engagement and the program’s overall effectiveness. However, as the weeks progressed and she built rapport with the students, her apprehension quickly turned into confidence. Through creative and interactive literacy games—many of which were developed in collaboration with Ruby Drive teacher Ms. Alvarado—the volunteers were able to tailor their support to the individual learning needs of each student. According to Yao, by the program’s conclusion, higher-achieving students continued to demonstrate strong performance, while students who initially struggled showed marked improvement, including the ability to independently read full sentences.
The program also received enthusiastic feedback from families has motivated the LIT UP team to continue expanding the program’s reach and impact. The success of this partnership between high school volunteers and elementary students underscores the value of peer-led initiatives in fostering early literacy development. Ruby Drive Elementary is grateful for the meaningful contributions of the Valencia High School volunteers and looks forward to future collaborations that support student achievement.
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