Axiom Volunteers Adopt Mount Vernon Community School
May 19, 2005
Falls Church, Virginia. Every spring slips into summer, signaling the end of another school year. This year, in their rush to the playgrounds and their summer vacations, the students of Mount Vernon Community School will say farewell to the members of the Axiom Resource Management, Inc., workforce who gave their lunch hours and evenings to serve as mentors and tutors to the schools' 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
"Community support to MVCS is very important to our students." stated Mrs. Pat Gomez, Mount Vernon Community School Volunteer Coordinator. "Axiom volunteers have demonstrated great commitment to our school and the children. Axiom provides a great example to the business community for how to get involved."
Axiom staff members, including partner Doug Peardon, and volunteer coordinator Maria O'Leary, provided one-on-one tutoring in reading and math, helping prepare students for the state's standards of learning examinations.
Mount Vernon Community School is typical of many schools in large urban school districts. Its students are bright, responsive to encouragement, and unusually diverse; 56 percent of the student body is Hispanic, 24 percent are African American, 2.5 percent are Asian, and 1 percent is Native American. Reflecting the linguistic diversity of its community, the school has integrated English as a Second Language and a Dual Language program into its regular curricula, with classes alternating between English and Spanish throughout the day.
"The boys and girls attending Mt. Vernon Community School are growing into the men and women who will manage the companies and cities of tomorrow," said Doug Peardon. "Sitting beside these kids for an hour an evening is a remarkable experience. You can almost see them learn."
"The school year is ending," said Peardon, "but our support for the school is just beginning." The school has scheduled a book swap for the week of June 13 through 17, coinciding with the school's summer Field Day. Axiom continues collecting books to donate for the swap and Axiom volunteers will help staff the Field Day activities.
"The support of companies like Axiom is critical to this school's success" said Dr. Lilia "Lulu" Lopez, Mount Vernon Community School's principal. "It's not just the value of the materials they will contribute to the school. That's important. But the human touch, the personal commitment they're making to the students is just as vital to helping these students make their way through their futures."
Axiom is a professional consulting firm providing program management, operational support, accessibility, and IT solutions. The firm delivers studies and analysis, Web, marketing, and distance learning support. Axiom also provides information clearinghouse/distribution services. Axiom clients include the Departments of State, Transportation, and Education, and the TRICARE Management Activity.
For more information contact Ms. Maria O'Leary at 703.998.0327 Ext 230.