2016 Spring Newsletter

Connect with Connections Academics

It is hard to believe that most schools are already in fourth quarter; the year has flown by!  Spring brings Advanced Placement tests, and our tutors are ready to help your son or daughter prepare.  We also have tutors who specialize in SAT/ACT preparation.  Strong scores on both the AP and college placement tests can ultimately save thousands of dollars in tuition; tutoring is a solid investment in your child’s  future.  Spring tutoring schedules can fill up quickly, so please reach out soon if you anticipate that your child will need tutoring services.

As we prepare to conclude the year we always want to reflect on our team and efforts.  We will be sending a survey out to our current families and teachers we work with, please take time to share how we are doing and what we can do better. Our goal is to consistently be evaluating ourselves and our process and always improving.  Please take time to complete the survey below.  Additionally, we will be sending this to our current families later this week.

Tutor Recruitment

Connections Tutoring is very selective when we recruit new tutors.  Amanda starts by reaching out to several local graduate programs that have a history of providing solid tutors.  She also frequently finds talented individuals through career events at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University career fairs.  Since many of our graduate tutors leave the city when their degree is finished, Connections is constantly recruiting new talent.  We also hire a number of educators and local professionals who enjoy using their skills to help young people succeed; many of these tutors have worked with Connections for years.  All tutors are thoroughly vetted before being added to the team and we provide ongoing training to help them be the best educators they can be.  Our wide range of tutors makes it possible to find someone who will be a good fit for your son or daughter.

Summer Tutoring Opportunities

Connections Tutoring doesn’t stop at the end of the school year; we have a number of summer options designed to prevent learning loss and provide enrichment over the summer months.  We offer a variety of summer camps that provide enrichment opportunities for every age group and need, whether you have a high school student looking for ACT/SAT preparation or an elementary student who needs

enrichment during the summer months.  These camps are taught by qualified, experienced educators and are very popular with our Connections families.  Please contact us to learn more about these opportunities.  We currently have multiple study skills camps and a first grade readiness group planned.  While we offer scheduled sessions at a set location, we can also reproduce these experiences in different locations and for smaller groups of students.  Please contact Amanda if you are interested in a customized summer course.

We also have tutors who continue to meet with students throughout the summer.  Some students need help catching up to grade level, and others are looking for enrichment in a subject area of interest.  Whether you are looking for intervention or extension, we have a tutor for you.  Learning doesn’t have to take a break because the weather is warm!

Tutor Highlight

In each newsletter, we like to highlight one of our talented tutors.  Elizabeth Steffer attended the University of Cincinnati and received a Master of Science in Community Health; while working toward her graduate degree, she taught classes at the undergraduate level.  She is currently a Health Educator at the Northern Kentucky Health Department, where she works primarily on policy, systems, and environmental change relating to physical activity and nutrition.  In addition, she is an experienced grant writer.  Her unique background enables her to share her knowledge of science with students while helping them develop their writing skills.

In her free time, she enjoys attending Bengals games (who dey!), spending time with family and friends, participating in sand volleyball leagues, and staying active.

She is “thrilled to be a part of the Connections team, helping students achieve their goals and providing academic support.”  We are so glad to have Elizabeth on our team!

As always, thank you for allowing Connections Tutoring to be a partner in your child’s education.  We are so proud of the progress our students have made this year!

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Written by Laura Simon, CT Blog Contributor