Sag Harbor's John Jermain Memorial Library Offers Free Tutoring

The John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor is offering free tutoring in math and English for all area students ages 13-19 every Monday evening, as part of the Martha Rusk Sutphen Educational Initiative.

Funded by a generous donation from the family of educator Martha Rusk Sutphen, who died of cancer in 2010, the program features professional math tutor and math and special education teacher Chase Mallia, followed by  journalist Oliver Peterson, who is a certified art and English teacher. Snacks are provided during both sessions.

Chase Malia—who teaches math and special education in Sag Harbor, and has taught math and business in the Copiague School District—will be on hand to help students with general math homework from 4:15–5:45 p.m. The math assistance is available in both English and Spanish.

A “General Writing & Research” hour with Oliver Peterson runs from 6–7 p.m. Peterson, who has a masters degree in writing from Southampton College can help with English homework, as well as research and writing across all disciplines. He has been served as a substitute teacher at Pierson Middle-High School in Sag Harbor and currently works as the web editor for DansPapers.com. Peterson has also taught writing and art workshops at the library.

This is a great opportunity for any struggling student, or those who just need a boost, to take advantage of Malia and Peterson’s expertise and individualized attention, which is sometimes more difficult to obtain in a classroom setting. There is no sessions on February 17, in observance of George Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day).

The Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner Writing Workshop for Teens

Underwritten by generous donations from the friends of Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner (a longtime advocate, with husband Paul, of youth literacy programs), JJML is also offering a writing workshop for teens at 5 p.m. every Thursday through May 16. The program allows students to explore writing outside of the classroom with writing prompts, discussion of craft and technique, and constructive group critique. Writers develop a body of original work, and revise selected pieces for publication in MOSS, the library’s online magazine of teen creative work at moss.johnjermain.org.

The program is open to teens 13–18, and snacks are provided. Call 725-0049 to register.

John Jermain Memorial Library is located at 34 West Water Street in Sag Harbor. Call 631-725-0049 or visit johnjermain.org.