By Alaura Schuler

Students’ grades will be checked every Tuesday this year to determine eligibility and the need for study-table assistance. If students have an F and want to participate in extra-curricular activities, they are required to attend study table on Wednesday afternoon from 1:50 -3:19 p.m. to help them catch up or work on get help with problems they can’t figure out.

Additional study tables are open to all students 3:19-4:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

The system was designed to help students realize when they’re falling behind and to catch back up before it’s too late to save the grade.

According to Vice Principal Josh Rasmussen, so far the improvement on students’ grades has been “case by case. We’ll find out by the end of the quarter how things are going.”

Para-educators Denise Sharp and Sue Peterson, who provide Student Support Services at AHS, supervise the study tables. Sharp said, “There is an average of 90” students who are failing each week and need to go to a study table. “Only about 25-30 on average show up,” Sharp said.

“Our job is to enforce the study table rules. Students need to bring homework to do. There is no talking, cell phones, iPods, or sleeping allowed,” said Sharp. Peterson emphasized “We tutor ones who need help.”

Retired math teacher Bruce Henderson also helps tutor math during study-table time.