Connecting Youth Mentoring Program

Connecting Youth an umbrella organization at Chittenden South Supervisory Union sponsors a school based mentoring program in which an adult volunteer (click HERE for CY Mentor job description) from the community is matched with a middle school student (ages 10 to 14 years old) at Shelburne Community School.

Who are the kids in the mentor program?

Mentees are fifth to eighth grade students at Shelburne Community School who are interested in learning or doing something beyond their current curriculum.  With an additional one-on-one relationship with a caring mentor, students are able to take advantage of school time, school resources and extra attention from an adult mentor.

How are mentees chosen?

Students are nominated for participation in the program by their teachers, guidance counselor, or parents.  Students may also request a mentor.  The Mentor Coordinator meets with each student to explain what mentoring is, which activities are available to them (on school property during school hours), and how a mentor is found.  The Mentor Program Coordinator is available to answer parents’ questions and hear any concerns prior to their signing a permission form.

When do mentors and Mentees meet?

Pairs meet once a week at a designated time for about 45 minutes to an hour. Mentor time is scheduled together by the teacher, student and Mentor Coordinator with careful consideration not to interrupt instruction time.

Where do mentors and mentees meet?

A Mentor Room is available at SCS on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  It is furnished with a table and chairs and stocked with drinks, snacks and various games and crafts. A white board with a "quote of the week" and various ideas for activities is on the wall.  Mentor pairs are always free to use other parts of the school and school grounds as well, as long as they do not disrupt ongoing classes.

What do mentors and mentees do together?

Mentor/mentee matches usually let their interests guide their activities.  Sports minded students like to shoot baskets, play catch, fly a kite or even walk the Snelling Fitness Path that surrounds the school property.  Others enjoy crafts such as scrapbooks, knitting, model building, or wood burning.  Games such as chess, Othello, Life and Parcheesi are available.  Computers are available in the suite area just outside the mentor room with PhotoShop and other interesting software for mentors and mentees to explore has been installed. 

Often an adult will bring an interest or hobby from his or her own life to demonstrate to a student and together they can work on a project such as learning to knit, building a bird house, or creating a video.  Some adults bring materials to donate to the program, but the Mentor Coordinator can obtain materials and supplies for projects pairs have in mind.

How do I become a mentor?

To become a mentor, please fill out a:

• Mentor application/agreement, download the application: Microsoft Word

• Confidentiality agreement - download the confidentiality agreement form: Microsoft Word OR PDF), and

• Media release form - download the media release form: Microsoft Word or PDF

These forms are submitted to Georgene Grover, Mentor Coordinator.  The Mentor Coordinator will interview candidates to discover their interests, skills and experiences. Mentors must pass an FBI background check and be fingerprinted at the Shelburne Police Department before meeting with mentees.  Most mentors will attend a mentor training held in October before beginning to meet with their mentees.  However, mentors that start later in the school year are trained one-on-one by the Mentor Coordinator.

What does the mentor training cover?

Mentor training covers the mentor’s role, communication skills, school resources, strict confidentiality policy, developmental information about middle school age children, conflict resolution skills and gives mentors an opportunity to role-play challenging situations.

Back to the Mentoring at SCS Home Page

Home Page maintained by Georgene Grover
ggrover@cssu.or
Last updated: January 09, 2008