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South Windsor Mentoring Program
About Mentoring
| Contact Type | Contact Information |
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Mentoring Links: | Link to Page | Link to Page | Link to Page |
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| What is Mentoring |
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Mentoring is a
one-on-one relationship between a youth and a caring adult. Mentoring
relationships help students to appreciate who they are while developing
the skills they need to succeed.
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A Mentor... |
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...May Be A: |
...Is Not A: |
- Friend
- Listener
- Cheerleader
- Coach
- Tutor
- Confidant
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- Foster Parent
- Therapist
- Parole Officer
- Cool Peer
- ATM Machine
- Savior
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| Why is Mentoring Important |
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Research shows that mentoring
relationships help students to develop work ethics and responsibility,
improve self-esteem and attitudes towards school, improve relationships
with peers and family members and increase communication skills.
The presence of a variety of positive influences in a child’s
environment is crucial, especially at an age where children are
developing relationships with those outside of their family.
Mentoring relationships help children to develop confidence to seek
guidance from caring, supportive adults. It is a skill that
will help them in school, college and the workforce. The
mentoring relationship does not replace the role of a parent or
teacher. A mentor is a friend. |
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Benefits of Mentoring |
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Benefits to Mentees:
Improved academic
performance
Improved attendance
Improved attitudes toward school work
Increased communication skills
Improved peer/family
relationships
Improved self-esteem
Less likely to engage in school violence
(Norwalk Study)
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Benefits to Mentors :
Feel
they were a better person
Had increased patience
Gained friendships
Felt they were effective
Learned new skills such as listening
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(
Commonwealth Fund Survey 1998)
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| Program History |
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The South Windsor Mentoring Program began in the fall of 2001 and
has volunteer mentors working with Grade 6, 7, and 8 students for
one hour a week during the school year. The program is a
partnership between South Windsor’s Youth & Family Services, Public
Schools and the Chamber of Commerce. The partnership allowed us to
create a team dedicated to providing a quality program for our
students. Youth & Family Services provides program coordination and
mentor training while the Chamber of the Commerce works with us to
recruit mentors from our business community. |
| Program
Description |
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Our program is
school-based which means that students and their mentors meet on school grounds,
during the school day, following the school calendar. Mentors and students
will meet weekly for a friendly visit. Weekly activities might include working
on a computer in the library, playing a board game, spending time in the gym, or
making a craft. |
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