Threats to the possible closing of the Atoms Writing Center occurred earlier this year due to the lack of offering of the Advanced Composition elective, leaving the fate of the AWC uncertain for the coming year.
AHS neighbor Edison High School followed pursuit under similar circumstances and is set to close next year, after the course was not offered due to a lack of tutoring sessions being met.
As the EWC advisor and primary coordinator of tutoring sessions was on maternity leave, they were no longer able to meet the number of sessions they previously were able to.
“The EWC was informed of the closing on April 12 via email to a student,” senior and lead tutor of the EWC Tyler Paloma said. “A day after this, our advisor, Mrs. Dent was called into a meeting on April 13 to further discuss, despite her being out for maternity leave.”
The news of the closing of the EWCcame as a great shock to not only the community at large but especially those involved in the program.
“It was initially unbelievable. Our center has been open for over 15 years, with many alumni citing EWC as their primary source of confidence in their writing,” Paloma said. “We are currently ranked the number one writing center in the nation by the Secondary Schools Writing Center Association.”
Writing centers pose not only opporunities for students to improve their writing and achieve better marks on their assignments, but they additionally aid tutors in peer-to-peer mentorship and teach strong and lifelong leadership skills.
EHS principal Amanda Burke did not reply to an request for comment.
Students of the EWC organized a presentation to Burke shortly after learning the decision to close the EWC for the 2024-2025 school year was final.
The EWC serves not only as a vital resource for all EHS students to improve their writing but also greatly impacts ESL students.
“I think there’s many ways it would affect students. Most notably, however, is the English Second Language students that we tutor regularly,” Paloma said. “They come from all walks of life, and over 15 languages are spoken within the one class.”
The lack of such an important tool for students comes at a great cost to the community, largely impacting not only the tutors but the entire EHS community.
“Without the EWC, there will be a significant hole in the Edison community as the EWC brought together diverse and unique individuals together in unity,” junior and two year EWC tutor Christopher Lastrape said.
