Saturday School Completes Twentieth Year of Operation with Closing Ceremonies and Scholarship Awards


The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., also known as Saturday School, is wrapping up its twentieth successful year. Closing ceremonies to recognize the 3,400 program participants and 525 tutors will be held at all twelve Saturday School Centers on Saturday, May 6th, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Members of the Board of Education, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) executive staff, and the Montgomery County Council will be in attendance.

Saturday School Centers are at Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, John F. Kennedy, Col. Zadok Magruder, Northwest, Paint Branch, Rockville, Sherwood, Springbrook, Watkins Mill, and Wheaton high schools.

Closing ceremonies also will include the 2nd Annual High Achievement Scholarship Awards, sponsored by Verizon. The awards will be presented to high school seniors who have served as Saturday School tutors and have demonstrated high academic achievement.

The Saturday Schools program is closely aligned with the Montgomery County Public Schools 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.

Closing ceremonies are open to the public and anyone who is interested is welcome to attend. For more information, call 301-320-6545.