Fair Oaks Elementary School serves Redwood City children from Kindergarten through fifth grade. As of now, Los Ayudantes works with about 20 fourth and fifth graders in our Book Club program.

Of Fair Oaks Elementary's 455 students, 95 percent (about 430 students) are Latino. And over 80 percent of those Latino students (about 350 students) are classified as "English Language Learners," meaning English is not the primary language spoken at home--that is over three-times the California state average.

Furthermore, almost 90 percent of Fair Oaks students qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program. And class sizes for fourth and fifth grade average between 24 and 28 students.

Although our program takes place after school, one hour a week, it is considered part of the regular school day for our students. The classroom teacher with whom we are partnered, Marlene Chantri, works directly with us during the hour and the children placed with us are committed to attend just as they would any hour of the school day. We also team with Marlene to choose books and activities that align closely with what the kids are studying in their other classes. And we focus upon particular language arts skills that all children's teachers are focussing on during their regular classes.