St. Paul’s students help their less-fortunate peers

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

St. Paul’s School juniors Ethan Wilson and Peter Verges have partnered with the YMCA in Covington to create a tutoring and mentoring program to serve the St. Tammany Parish community. It is a version of the Wolves for Tutoring Club that the duo created during their sophomore year when COVID made outreach difficult.

Following a year of setbacks and limited to only small tutoring projects, Wilson and Verges reached out to West St. Tammany YMCA executive director Joey Roberts in an effort to expand the program.

With the help of Krissy Cook, youth and family programs and summer camp director, they re-established Wolves for Tutoring as part of the YMCA’s after-school program.

Wilson and Verges recruited 25 classmates for the Wolves for Tutoring Club, primarily sophomores and juniors, who are committed to meeting three times a week after school at the YMCA. Club members work with kids on homework and studying for tests, but the program goes beyond tutoring.

“Members help the kids build circuit board kits, solve marble puzzles and even play Wordle,” Verges said. “They then go outside with them and play games such as four-square. Taking the step beyond tutoring is what makes Wolves for Tutoring such a unique club. The brotherhood that club members form at school is spread to the community by forming connections with these kids who look up to them as mentors and friends.”

Club members have met every challenge with a smile and enthusiasm.

Elijah Weixel, a junior, who serves as the club’s public relations officer, elaborated on his experience with being a part of the tutoring program, sharing.

“St. Paul’s has always encouraged us to support and help those in need,” Weixel said. “When Peter invited me to join this club, I immediately accepted and wanted to run for office because I see the potential of what my classmates and I can and will create.

“During the first tutoring session, Mrs. Krissy (Cook) came to us and stated that there was a young boy from Honduras who only speaks Spanish.

“Because of what I learned from St. Paul’s foreign language department – special thanks to Señor Watkins and Señor Nuñez – I was able to fluently communicate with him and slowly teach him various English words and reading comprehension skills.

“I’ve been told that since my attending these sessions, he is more outgoing and personable.”

Weixel recounted a recent event where this same young boy thanked him for playing with him, revealing that he doesn’t have the opportunity to play with anyone at home.  Weixel has come to realize the vital impact these interactions are having.

“The difference you can make in someone’s life by just speaking to them in their native tongue is extraordinary,” Weixel said. “St. Paul’s has taught me to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.”

This was written by Aaron Falkenstein, St. Paul’s director of communications and journalism/yearbook teacher.