Tutoring & Mentoring

In addition to one on one and small group support, On Your Mark focuses on encouraging participants to expand their circle of support by exposing them to University students and business professionals. It aims to encourage youth to become familiar with post-secondary settings and works with parents to provide information and support regarding the school system.

Some of the additional activities are: Adopt a student Day and Transition workshops for Grades 7 and 12.

How does the program work?

The program provides one-to-one and small group tutoring for students in elementary and high school, grades 1 to 12.

Volunteer tutors are recruited and matched with students considered “at risk”. Tutors and students meet after school and/or Saturday mornings for a minimum of one hour, tutoring sessions are organized around the needs of the individual student- with a focus on literacy and math.

Apart from academics, the program encourages discussion and relationship-building between tutors and students. Many of our tutors are of Portuguese-speaking or Spanish-speaking descent and are attending post-secondary education. They serve as role models for these students and have helped increase students’ self-esteem, leading to positive changes in their attitudes towards school and more regular completion of homework, as noted by parents.

The tutoring program typically starts in late October/early November depending on the number of registration forms received. The program runs until the end of May. Parents are contacted by phone once their child is matched with a tutor, in regards to the date their child(ren) will start and their assigned tutoring day for the full school year. Please be aware that all students have various start dates due to scheduling and tutor availability.

Who is eligible for the program?

In order to qualify for the program, students must:

• Be of Portuguese speaking descent OR be of Spanish speaking descent
• Be enrolled full time in school in grades 1 – 12
• Complete and submit a registration form signed by a parent or guardian
• Commit to meeting with a tutor for a minimum of 1.5 hours per week

What must parents do to be part of the program?

To qualify for the program, parents must:

• Attend a short Orientation where the registration forms will be submitted in person, or complete an orientation online and submit your registration forms via fax, scan/email or in person at the WWCC offices.
• Attend a minimum of one Parent workshop over the course of the school year.

How do I register my child for the program?

First, parent/guardian, student and teacher must complete a Student Registration Form. This form is available from your school, online at the link below or contact us to get a registration form from our office. The parent/guardian must then attend an Orientation Session in order to hand in the completed registration form in person to one of the program Coordinators or staff. They may also complete an orientation session online (see the link below) and submit your registration forms via fax or email. Please call the office to make sure your registration form was received if not submitting in person. You will be contacted BY PHONE, and then a Letter to Start, once a tutor becomes available for your child, students may start ONLY when contacted by the Program Coordinator and given a start date.

On Your Mark Parent Information

What do I do if my child can’t make it to a session?

If your child will not be making it to one of the sessions, please be sure to contact one of the Program Coordinators by email as soon as possible: sneves@workingwomen.org and marrechea@workingwomencc.org. It is important that your child’s tutor is then informed.

Please note, the students’ school DOES NOT notify the On Your Mark Program Coordinators of the students’ absence from school. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the Program Coordinators within a timely manner.

• A FIRST uninformed absence (not informing the Program Coordinator of your child’s absence) will result in a phone call to the parent/guardian.
• A SECOND uninformed absence will result in a warning letter being mailed.
• A THIRD uninformed absence will result in the student being removed from the program.

How can I advocate for my child at the school?

If you think there is a problem with your child’s education at school, you have a right to speak to the school about this.

Your first stop should be your child’s teacher. For more details on how to handle problems at school and who to contact see our resources below.

• Solving Problems at School
• Who to talk to at your school and school Trustee’s contact information

Parent Workshops

These workshops provide parents and guardians with practical tools and methods to offer assistance with the following:

• support for their child’s learning
• how to work closely with the Toronto school system
• understanding of the Ontario elementary school and high school curriculum, and the methods and behaviours to facilitate the learning process

Workshops are offered annually and attendance at at least one is mandatory for all parents.

Online Orientation Session

We are excited to invite you to our online orientation session designed to help you better understand how our tutoring program works. This session will provide valuable insights into the program's structure, goals, and how we can work together to support your child's academic success.

We believe that a collaborative approach between parents, students, and tutors is key to a successful learning experience. Your participation in this orientation session will help ensure that you have all the information you need to support your child effectively.

Please complete the THREE questions at the end of the Orientation. Once you submit the questions your answers will be submitted to a Program Coordinator.



A reminder that this form is to be completed by at least one parent/guardian if the registered On Your Mark student is NEW to the program.

PLEASE NOTE: If at least one parent/caregiver has already completed an Online Orientation in the past, you do not need to complete it again. Only NEW Parents/Caregivers to the program must complete an Online Orientation.