The Student Mentor Program
A program that benefits everyone involved!

The Fairmont Elementary Student Mentor Program was originally developed as a result of a need to assist some special education students who were having difficulty integrating into the “social” environment at the school. Today, this program has grown to include any student who may be at risk of isolation from his/her peers. At the beginning of the school year, teachers and parents are made aware of the program’s existence and are encouraged to be proactive in identifying students who may be at risk of being “left out.” This may include students who are routinely seen as always sitting on the sidelines playing by themselves, or an overly aggressive student who displays inadequate social skills and tends to be shunned by his/her peers because of an awkward approach toward socializing. The role of the mentor is to act as a facilitator to help a student become involved with his/her peers. A mentor is also a role model to the peers of the student he is assisting and can show the peers ways in which they too can be of help.

One of the greatest and unexpected successes of this program is seeing those students whom at one time required the assistance of a mentor, now becoming mentors themselves.

This program is supported by the Fairmont PTA, which provides the necessary funds to purchase some of the specialized toys and/or equipment that may be needed in order to help facilitate social interaction. Many students requiring assistance don’t have the skills to play the typical playground games of their peers. PTA funds also support the Mentor luncheon, held at the end of the year to recognize the efforts of these young leaders.

How the program works:
• Teacher, parent or anyone concerned can identify a student at risk.
• Parent is notified of concern and made aware of the program and must give permission for their child to be a part of the program.
• All 5th and 6th grade teachers introduce the Mentor concept to their students and seek out volunteers.

• Any student wishing to volunteer is given a “job application” to complete.
All students are accepted into the program as Mentors as long as they complete the application, show up for their interview, and attend a short training session during school lunch period. All the Mentors are required to attend the training to help them acquire some of the necessary skills they will need for this position. Often the school has many more mentors than are necessary. so the mentors are paired and may work as a team to help the student. This also helps in situations where a mentor needs help developing his/her own leadership skills. Mentors are asked to volunteer two days a week during either part of their lunch period or during their recess. Their term of service is usually about 3 months, and at that time the mentor can let the staff know if they wish to continue or not. However, those who wish to continue must wait to see if there is an opening after the next group of mentors is given their assignments.

• Mentors are matched with a student, then a time and date is set up to introduce the parties to each other.

Our Resource Aide, Melissa Goettsche, is in charge of the scheduling and day-to-day management of the program.  Mary Hudson-McKinney is the PTA representative to the Mentor Program.

THANK YOU...
The PTA wishes to thank Melissa Goettsche, the student mentors, and their buddies for their dedication and devotion to the Student Mentor Program. This marks another successful year of fun and friendship for the student mentors and their buddies.

For more information on this program, you may contact:

Melissa Goettsche
970-1401