Three students from the Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair High School will demonstrate the volunteer program they devised that uses email to help elementary age children at nearby Pine Crest Elementary School improve their writing skills. The demonstration will take place on Thursday, April 18, at 3:15 p.m. at Pine Crest Elementary School.

The Blair student volunteers, Annie Peirce, Sarah Thibadeau, and Matt Yalowitz, expanded their Montgomery Ultimate Story Exchange (M.U.S.E.) from a class assignment to a full-fledged mentoring program.

Approximately 15 elementary students have signed up for M.U.S.E. as an after school club. They enter their stories, poems, and other creative works into an email account. Each student is paired with a high school mentor who responds with writing help and suggestions by email. Twice a semester, the mentors meet with the young students to discuss their projects in person. A faculty advisor at Pine Crest supervises the elementary students during club meetings as they use their mentors’ responses to improve past projects and work on new pieces.

NOTE: The three Montgomery Blair High School students will be honored as part of a TECH CORPS Partners press conference highlighting the contributions to schools and students of technology literate volunteers. More information about this press event on Monday, April 22, at 1:00 p.m. at Comcast, 11800 Tech Road, Silver Spring will be sent in a separate announcement.