After having been paired with their assigned students the K-8 Mentors will have their first official meeting with their students this upcoming Tuesday.  Every Gold Day, during sixth and seventh period, students will leave school and meet with two of their four students.  The only exception to this routine is for Gold Days occurring on a Friday in which case the class convenes to discuss updates and share their experiences with the kids.

The purpose of the program is for mentors to develop relationships with children who are facing challenges in some aspect of their life.  The first nine weeks were dedicated to learning how to be a successful mentor and touring the Carmel Clay elementary and middle schools, but from here on out the class adopts a very established routine.  Every week the mentors visit each of their four assigned students to talk about what may be going on in their lives, play games or even help them study in a particularly difficult class.

Social Studies teacher Robin Pletcher teaches and oversees the class.   “It generally takes about three weeks of meeting with the kids for them to develop a sense of trust with their mentors,” said Pletcher.  Oftentimes, the first few times that the mentors see the kids they will be playing games and engaging the child in other activities to make them feel more comfortable.

Though many of the mentors are anxious, most are also quite enthusiastic about beginning their sessions.  Club member and senior Coco Sullivan said, “I was really nervous… but once I started talking to the kids I felt really happy that I’d be making a difference in their lives.”  The students have started making plans about what they will do with their kids, as well.  Some plan on coloring with the younger kids, or even bringing a board game.  Sullivan said she plans on bringing cards to play.  By Kevin Quist