Christmas break waits just around the corner. About one more week of school and then students will be sleeping late instead of studying late -- but first you have to make it through that one week.

Area high schools are beefing up tutoring staff and providing students additional library hours for the extra effort exam time requires.

Central High School's library is open from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., which are normal hours, but next week the school will run a bus at 4:30 every afternoon. The buses allow students without cars to take advantage of the library.

"We always try to be mindful that not all of our students have computers at home," said principal Mike Cowan. The library provides the support for technology-heavy coursework and end-of-the-semester paper writing.

"As much as anything else, the atmosphere is an atmosphere of studying," Cowan said. "It provides them a structured place to focus on coursework."

Jackson High School counselor Sarah Nussbaum expects the Success Center to be crowded next week. She has scheduled two teachers to work in the library after school to help students study.

The Success Center opened in October. It keeps the library open from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and offers peer tutoring or teacher help.

"I've gone whenever I needed help," Jackson senior Aaron Kothe said.

He was one of the first students to take advantage of the center, and said he would be studying there for exams.

"It's quieter," he said. "There's less distractions; there's people to help if you need it."

Notre Dame Regional High School students can go to different learning centers during lunch times for help. The NHS Peer tutoring programs are also encouraged by faculty.

"Students seek extra help from teachers every day of the year, so this is no exception," said Notre Dame principal Brother David Migliorino.

charris@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246

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Studying tips from the experts at Dartmouth

• Study in chunks: Twenty to 50 minute periods followed by a break (five to 10 minutes) is the most effective way to study.
• Use daylight hours: An hour of studying during the day is worth two at night. Do the work that requires the most concentration (typically reading) earliest in the day.
• Prioritize: Rank your top three classes and spend time on your most challenging class every day and early in the day.
• Study actively: Ask yourself questions, review your notes regularly, discuss key concepts with peers and course professor.

Helpful Web sites

• www.studyspanish.com
• www.mathforum.org
• www.brainmass.com