Tunes-4-Tweens Teaches That Everyone Can Achieve

Tunes-4-Tweens is an opportunity for high school students to mentor sixth graders at . 

The program is designed to build confidence, provide a safe environment for after-school activities and to inspire students to achieve more both musically and academically. 

The program began three years ago, and was the brain child of high school student Patricia Hsu, who now attends Columbia University.  She wanted to create a program that would provide all students with a private lesson experience and help to strengthen the already popular and successful Bridgewater-Raritan Music Department. Elizabeth Kane, the sixth grade orchestral music teacher at Hillside, supported her idea and assisted in the planning process of matching children to mentors. 

This program allows high school students the opportunity to learn leadership roles, improve organizational skills and benefit from a year long service learning commitment.  It has also afforded high school students the opportunity to obtain community service credit, which has provided for them the opportunity to apply and win many scholarships that will assist them in higher education.

“I was so proud of our mentors and students this year," Kane said. "I am so pleased to see after three years the program is still servicing our students."

"I am also elated to announce that 100 percent of our seniors in the Tunes-4-Tweens program for 2011 will go on to pursue higher education with scholarship assistance to some of the best schools in the nation including Reed, Drexel and Rutgers," she added. "It is a great opportunity to show our sixth graders that in just a few years they will be able to achieve these honors because their community supports them and successful people like their mentors will show them how. It is great to announce the seniors’ accomplishments in front of the younger children."

This year's sixth grade group included Brianna Jeremiah, Andrea Nunes, Thomas Stranick, Alish Cortiago, Mitchell Diella, Josh Nabby, Ryan Jin and Zak Malik.  Many have expressed that they would be interested in mentoring when they got older.

Kira Jacobson served as this year’s Tunes-4-Tweenspresident, leading the group and recruiting the mentors.

This program meets weekly from February through June and is completely volunteer based. 

—Submitted by AnnaRene Jeremiah