Remington Elementary School will host a tea party to celebrate the success of the district’s cross-age tutoring program, which brings middle school and elementary school students together to work on reading skills.

The tea party will take place from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Remington, 4735 Pecos St.

The concept of cross-age tutoring has spread as part of the district’s literacy program. At many middle and high schools where an elementary school is within easy walking distance, students head out every other week to help their younger counterparts with the most basic learning skill. Morey Middle School students work with students at Wyman Elementary School, Kepner Middle School students spend time at nearby Castro Elementary School, and so on.

Teachers and principals say cross-age tutoring is good for both groups of students.

“We are implementing the cross-age tutoring project because we want to increase the sense of community in our schools and build strong motivations for students to want to work on their reading and writing skills,” says Susana Cordova, Director of Literacy. “Working with other students - teenagers for our little ones, and the children for the teenagers - has helped children across the district build a sense that they want to work on reading and writing - that this isn't just something that adults do. They can see themselves reflected in each other.”

The tea party at Remington will involve eighth-grade English Language Acquisition students from Horace Mann Middle School with Remington second-graders.

Remington Elementary School’s telephone number is 303-433-6461.