Written By: Chiara Perkins

Imagine an opportunity for young students to improve their literacy skills and learn in a nurturing environment with older students where they can grow academically and socially. The Saturday Enrichment and Tutorial (SET) program does just that. Through this Public Purpose initiative, RCDS Upper School students provide additional classroom support to students in the first through the fourth grade from neighboring school districts.

At its core, SET is designed to enhance English literacy skills. On Saturday mornings from October through February, over 100 students gather in the RCDS Lower School, filling its hallways with hectic energy and joy. Upper School students are encouraged to volunteer to help teach a class for this program, promoting RCDS values of community engagement. Volunteering includes supporting students’ learning through worksheets and fun, educational games. “Walking into a SET classroom is pure joy,” said Ms. Drago, the director of Public Purpose. “Young students are excited to connect with their RCDS student teachers, who offer fun and engaging pathways to new learning.” An especially unique component of the SET program is that parents can participate in the program as well. While their children attend classes, many parents join English Language Learner (ELL) courses, taught by Upper School students. This year, Anika Kini ‘25 and Matthew Lee ‘26 lead the program with the support of Upper School Spanish teacher Mr. Cavanaugh. The ELL classes offer three levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—and are aimed to improve adults’ English grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Another highlight of SET is the creative use of movement activities, such as dance or freeze-tag games, which bring a fun and engaging aspect to the learning environment. The SET program brings students, families, and teachers together, building skills and relationships to create a lasting positive experience.