Onward House is a non-profit organization that strives to provide education, childcare and family support services to those in need of it. South students mainly participate as tutors for the School Age Program, a service within Onward House that deals with children from ages 5-12.

According to the website, the School Age Program is a state-funded program that offers children with opportunities in building social skills and improving academic skills.

The program also offers weekly activities including cooking, art, sports and field trips to the zoo and museums for the kids.

Site Manager Darica Charles believes that South students provide the kids in the program with the one-on-one attention they barely receive at school.

“Our children are in need of homework help, and with the ratio in school being one teacher to twenty [students], it’s really hard to give them the individual attention that they need,” Charles said.

According to James Shellard, student activities director, South has participated as tutor volunteers for Onward House since the late 1960s.

Bob Cowell, co-sponsor of Onward House, mentioned former social studies teacher Howard Romanek’s role in South’s involvement with Onward House.

“Romanek was instrumental in strengthening ties between GBS and Onward House,” Cowell said. “I believe Mr. Romanek was on the Board of Directors of Onward House which ultimately led to the connection [with South].”

South’s Onward House members meet in the Autos Courtyard every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and take a school bus to a neighborhood in the west side of Chicago. After arriving, they split into different groups consisting of kids in different grade levels and assist them with math and English homework.

Sophomore Amreen Matharu, Onward House member, she said she joined the club because it is a fun experience and for a good cause.

“One of my friends told me about [Onward House] and it was at the beginning of the year and she seemed really dedicated and excited about it so I decided to give it a try,” Matharu said.  “It feels really good to help these kids […] It’s satisfying and worth your time.”

Sophomore Juliana Minasian, another member of Onward House, is also fond of the children involved with Onward House.

“Every time [I walk in], [my kid] screams, ‘My tutor!’” Minasian said. “It’s really cute and I love helping her because [she’s] really nice.”

Daisy, a second grade student who participates in the School Age Program, expressed that the tutors are not the only ones who seem to enjoy the weekly trips.

“I feel very happy when [the tutors come] because they help us with homework so we don’t get bad grades,” Daisy said.