The Communication Arts Department would like to use Aquinas Teaching Grant funds to reestablish a writing lab for the 2023-2024 academic year. A writing lab was previously established for the 2021-2022 academic year using COVID grant funds. This lab functioned as a way to help students gain extra help with writing assignments outside of classroom instruction with a licensed (retired) Communication Arts teacher. The lab was located in the school's media center and operated on Tuesday through Thursday during lunch periods. COVID funding for this project ended at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 academic year. If approved, the Communication Arts Department would operate the Writing Lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch hours for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Reestablishing the Writing Lab is important for academic success, as it will allow students to gain extra help with written work during the school day. Because of the finite parameters of the daily schedule, students may still have unanswered questions or need extra help after the class period ends. This means they must try to find their instructor between classes or after school, which is especially difficult for students who need to carpool or have after-school commitments (appointments, athletics, job). From an instructor's standpoint, taking time to answer questions between classes usually means that the student is late to their next class and the teacher must make the incoming students wait to begin instruction. A Writing Lab will provide an extra opportunity for assistance during the school day, while still allowing students to meet with their classroom instructor after school.

The entire student body would benefit from this offering. The fundraising goal for this initiative is $5,000.