Spread across desks at Mariposa Elementary School were Common Core math worksheets and workbooks, and geoboards with rubber bands forming polygons. Diligently and patiently working with the array of math materials were Mariposa’s young students and their tutors, members of the BOHS chapter of Math4Kids (M4K).
The club, launched at BOHS by Ellyana Kim (‘27) last fall, provides free after-school math tutoring to Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) elementary schools.
Kim was motivated to start a new chapter of the organization — established by El Dorado senior Kate Lee — due to her desire to help her community, specifically its children.
“Years of spending time with young children [as a babysitter] made me realize I want to use my assets to help the children of my community,” Kim said.
Another factor that contributed to Kim starting a BOHS chapter of M4K is her relationship with math.
Since the club’s launch in October 2024, BOHSM4K has hosted eleven one-hour tutoring sessions at Mariposa. The tutors — Grant Ahn (’27), Marlene Jaracuaro (‘26), Tiffany Jiang (’26), Ellyana Kim, and Emily Rodarte (‘26) — mainly focus on fourth to sixth grades.
At each session, tutors provide assistance with assignments ranging from homework, reviewing test corrections, studying for upcoming tests, and preparing for future math lessons.
Kim received step-by-step guidance from Lee for getting the club ASB-approved, forming a student board, launching a social media account, and sorting through the provided M4K curriculum. By the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, Kim was ready to launch the chapter.
To ensure each tutor is prepared to assist their student, Kim informs Shawna Palomino, Mariposa fourth grade teacher, of the tutoring event the weekend before for confirmation.
Palomino is grateful for the tutors as they provide an extra support system for the Mariposa students. “To have that [tutor] sitting next to them that can confirm if they’re on the right track gives [the students] that extra little boost,” Palomino said.
The tutoring sessions aren’t only beneficial for the students, but for their parents as well.
“For busy parents, especially if you have multiple kids and sports and lessons, it’s hard to find that one-on-one time,” Palomino said. “It’s really awesome that [the students] have great one-on-one help to solidify some of these concepts.”
Ahn appreciates how Mariposa “provided a place to help the kids out [to] make a positive impact.”
Despite logistical challenges, such as finding a sufficient number of tutors and making sure everyone arrives on time (tutoring sessions at the elementary school sites begin at 3:15 p.m.), Kim finds the challenge to be worth it, because “watching [the students] development, seeing them grow and improve their math skills eventually leading to their academic success, is a very rewarding and fulfilling experience.”
At BOHSM4K’s tutoring session March 10, Jiang, who has volunteered at nine sessions, devised a strategy to best correct a student’s mistake. “I guided [the students] step-by-step and redo all the questions to reinforce their understanding for upcoming tests,” Jiang said.
M4K not only provides the students with valuable information, but with bonding experiences as well.
“One of the favorite memories I have from M4K is talking to one of the girls and giving her advice about school along with bonding over similar hobbies and pets,” Jaracuaro said.
Making a change and educating students has been fulfilling for the volunteers.
“Seeing kids grow and gain confidence in math has been the most rewarding part,“ Rodarte said.
Kim concurred: “I’ve always had a heart to help children, but through M4K I continue to be inspired by their energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm.”
In the future, M4K intends to partner with more of the Brea Olinda Unified School District’s six elementary schools. (M4K reached out to Arovista Elementary School via email and is awaiting a response.)
The next tutoring session will be held on April 7 at Mariposa, then every other Monday until the end of the school year.
Rodarte acknowledged the value of the club in “providing kids with help in math, [but also to] build problem-solving skills and confidence for future success.”
