PEER MENTORING WANTS YOU! - After School Program Is Valuable Asset

(01/14/2005)
Submitted by Barbara McKown

The after-school Peer Mentoring Program is looking for student participants for the second semester.

The School Based Peer Mentoring Program is in it's second year and has proven to be a valuable asset to after-school programming. With this program, trained high school students mentor middle school students for 2 hours, twice a week. We generally meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

At each meeting, students participate in character building activities promoting awareness of self, school and community. The mentors encourage the students to become responsible individuals.

During the first semester, students focused on several topics, including: building self-esteem, developing communication skills, anger management, etc. Students participated in a variety of skill-building activities, such as, "Getting to know Me", "Ball Name Game", "Hidden Heart", etc. Each meeting has a Free Time session where mentors and students play board games or do a sports activity.

During the past few weeks participants have enjoyed a popcorn and movie night, bowling and pizza party (at Pizza Hut), and a Christmas party. During the spring semester, we hope to have an end of the year trip to Geauga Lake or King's Island.

If your child is interested in becoming a mentor or student participant for the School Based Peer Mentoring Program, please contact Jenny Richards at 354-6851. You may also stop in at the School Based Health Center at Calhoun Middle/High School to pick up an application. Remember, our children are our future.