In the program, adults work one-on-one with children to help them improve reading, writing, math, or English skills. They also help in the cafeteria, library, and office. In a typical year, some 10-20 residents each put in a few hours a week on schedules worked out with classroom teachers.

To become a Learning Leader, volunteers go through a required three-session training program - this year, on November 2, 9, and 16, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. To register for the training, residents are invited to call the school guidance counselor, Susan Cohen, at 980-0294, extension 2422, or Pennie Cannon, at 753-4315.

Additional information on New York City's Learning Leaders program is available on the Internet at www.learningleaders.org, or by phone at 213-3370.

PS/IS 217 students will be participating in the eighth annual Penny Harvest starting Monday (October 23) and running through Tuesday, November 28. The goal is to collect at least 25 thirty-pound sacks of pennies to earn a Roundtable, a decision-making group that will identify problems within the community and contribute $1,000 to community organizations and service projects.

The school will also earn a Service Learning Grant as part of the program, sponsored by Common Cents New York, a non-profit organization. Since 1992, Penny Harvesters have collected over a million dollars in pennies.

At the end of the project, the sacks of pennies will be taken to the Javits Center to be sorted and counted by over a thousand volunteers at the annual Common Cents Ton-a-Thon.

For information on getting involved in the project, call PS/IS 217 Guidance Counselor Susan Cohen at 980-0294, ext. 2422.