Two additional George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy centers, also known as “Saturday Schools,” will open on October 1, bringing the total number of centers to 12. Col. Zadok Magruder and Rockville high schools will join ten other Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools in hosting the free Saturday morning programs, which provide enrichment, tutoring, and mentoring for approximately 3,000 students in Grades 1-12.

Grand opening ceremonies on October 1 at both Magruder and Rockville will begin with a special session for parents, students, tutors, and guests from 8:30-9:45 a.m. Those attending will receive information about the academic instructional program, training for parents and tutors, and information about the operation of the center.

The Saturday Schools program is closely aligned with the MCPS curriculum and focuses on core subject areas. Students also are taught test-taking strategies and skills. The learning centers have a high rate of success, with 70 percent of students leaving the program at or above grade level in reading and math.

Although the program is open to all students, it is targeted to those who have the most difficulty with academic performance. Most students come from areas of the county with high concentrations of poverty and mobility, and many are English language learners. The centers are run on Saturdays from 8:30 until 11:00 from October through May.

The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., was established in 1986 by the Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity as an outgrowth of the Saturday School Initiative of Blacks United for Excellence in Education. Saturday Schools are open to all students.

In addition to the two new centers, other Saturday School sites are Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, John F. Kennedy, Northwest, Paint Branch, Sherwood, Springbrook, Watkins Mill, and Wheaton high schools.

For more information, contact Michael Thomas, executive director, George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., at 301-320-6545.