Ms. Webster Launches Walls Writing Center

Photo by Zoe Fisher

This school year, humanities teacher Laura Webster founded the Student Writing Center, held in Room 127, which began offering students services on December 2. The Student Writing Center, run by juniors and seniors at the School Without Walls, aims to assist the freshman class in humanities-based activities.

As part of running the center, seniors and juniors have the primary responsibility of offering input and guiding questions in order to support students in any phase of the writing process. Tutors will also earn community service hours and can mention their participation on college applications. Senior Esmé Takacs (‘25) when addressing her possible involvement in the writing center said, “That resource could’ve helped me get better at writing when I was a freshman and I think it’s a great opportunity now.” She continued, “What interests me is finding various resources that could help people improve upon what they already know when it comes to writing.” 

Freshmen will receive feedback on their writing, which are accepted at any stage of completion, to tutoring sessions. Over the course of the school year, students will work on improving their writing and building connections with upperclassmen.

Regarding the program, Webster noted, “The peer tutor will lead you through a conversation that helps you give feedback on your own writing.” This approach may appeal to students, as tutors focus on guidance rather than harsh criticism. Students interested in becoming tutors can discuss training opportunities with Webster. 

The Writing Center will be open before school and during lunch for approximately 30 minutes, though specific dates and times are ultimately set by the participating tutors. Several juniors and seniors have already volunteered to assist freshmen students. However, the Writing Center is still accepting volunteers and will continue to do so throughout the school year. To become a tutor, students should visit Laura Webster in Room 127 for further training, which involves mock tutoring sessions with Ms. Webster. This opportunity benefits both upperclassmen and freshmen, providing roles as tutors and mentees.