Students in the K-8 Mentoring class have begun taking trips to the Carmel-Clay elementary and middle schools. The purpose of the trips is for students to become familiar with the rules and guidelines of the schools, so they are prepared when they meet their partners after fall break.

According to Jacob Reutz, second year K-8 mentor and senior,  “We talk to the counselor (of the elementary or middle school), they tell us specific things about their school, and they take us on tours.”

During the week of fall break, Ruetz and other K-8 mentors will return to one of the schools the class visited. There, students will be chosen for them to mentor for the rest of the year.

“It’s like being a special friend to (the kids that the students will mentor),” said Robin Pletcher, K-8 Mentoring instructor.

Back in the classroom, Pletcher’s students are still learning skills that will help them when they meet their mentees.

“We do some activity-type things that help develop communication skills and facilitating techniques,” said Ruetz.

According to Ruetz, however, the best part of the class has yet to come.

“When you get to actually meet your kids and start doing things with them,” he said, “that’s definitely the most exciting part of the class.”