The School-Based Mentoring Program
We know that students benefit from the individual attention provided by carefully screened Mentors. Each mentor meets his/her Little Brother or Sister 1/2 hour per week during the school year to provide support, encouragement, and a positive role model. The mentor spends one half hour one-to-one with each of two children. Mentors should not be viewed primarily as tutors, although some might do this activity. Mentors could have lunch with their Little, work with them on reading, play an educational board game, shoot baskets, or just sit and talk. The main purpose is to meet the needs of children within a school setting. Teachers involved in programs around the county have reported an improvement in the children's self-esteem, behavior, attendance, and academic success.
School-Based Mentoring is conducted in Alta Brown Elementary, Buffalo Jones Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Georgia Matthews Elementary, Gertrude Walker Elementary, Holcomb Elementary, Jennie Wilson Elementary, Victor Ornelas Elementary, Wiley Elementary, Edith Scheuerman Elementary, Florence Wilson Elementary, Jennie Barker Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Deerfield Elementary, Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center, Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center, and Garden City High School.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Finney County screens the volunteers, monitors the relationship, and evaluates the success of the program. We also serve as a liaison between the mentor and the school. Bigs are recruited mainly from various classes at Garden City Community College, Holcomb High School, and Garden City High School. Corporate Mentors from local businesses also participate. School personnel refer Littles.
A key component of this program is location. It is school-based so there is NO contact (phone or otherwise) between the mentor and the children outside of the school setting. Mentors sign an agreement to this effect prior to the initial meeting. The mentor/student contacts occur only during regular school hours.
A study conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America found the following about School-Based Mentoring programs:
- 64% of students developed more positive attitudes toward school
- 58% achieved higher grades in social studies, languages, and math
- 60% improved relationships with adults, and 56% improved relationships with peers
- 55% were better able to express their feelings
- 64% developed higher levels of self-confidence
- 62% were more likely to trust their teachers
Locally, the statistics are just as impressive. Over the course of the fall 2006-2007 school year:
- 100% of students developed more positive attitudes toward school
- 100% developed higher self-confidence
- 100% improved academically
- 100% improved their ability to express feelings
- 99% improved peer relationships
- 99% improved relationships with teachers
In 2006, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Finney & Kearny Counties served 362 youth one-to-one, 1914 youth in groups, and 125 children in our summer program.