Changing students lives, one relationship at a time.
That’s the idea that brought a group of thirty kids and teachers to the auditorium on a Thursday afternoon at Walt Whitman Middle School. It was part of the kick-off of the school’s MentorWorks program; a Fairfax County Public Schools initiative designed to connect young students with pathways to success.
That’s the idea that brought a group of thirty kids and teachers to the auditorium on a Thursday afternoon at Walt Whitman Middle School. It was part of the kick-off of the school’s MentorWorks program; a Fairfax County Public Schools initiative designed to connect young students with pathways to success.
Mentors and Mentees gather in Walt Whitman's auditorium for the MentorWorks Kick-Off.
“The purpose of our MentorWorks program is to provide our kids with ready access to a trusted adult; someone who can be their friend,” explains Delia Montecinos, the Community Schools Coordinator who facilitates Whitman’s program. “A lot of our kids here at Walt Whitman don’t have that because their parents are working. Just knowing that they have someone they can trust within the community can mean so much.”
The program, which debuted at Whitman late last school year as part of the Community School’s partnership with United Community and United Way of the National Capital Area, pairs each student with an adult mentor. Student and Mentor are then instructed to meet, one-on-one, at least once a week for 30 minutes through the end of the school year. Meetings can occur over lunch, after-school, or however the mentor and student decide is best for them.
“Take a moment and think about your own K-12 experience,” Assistant Principal Matthew Johnson began, addressing the crowd of teachers and students. “Who was that one person in your life who made a difference? At the end of the day, the mentors in this room, right now, can be that one person for these kids.”
The program, which debuted at Whitman late last school year as part of the Community School’s partnership with United Community and United Way of the National Capital Area, pairs each student with an adult mentor. Student and Mentor are then instructed to meet, one-on-one, at least once a week for 30 minutes through the end of the school year. Meetings can occur over lunch, after-school, or however the mentor and student decide is best for them.
“Take a moment and think about your own K-12 experience,” Assistant Principal Matthew Johnson began, addressing the crowd of teachers and students. “Who was that one person in your life who made a difference? At the end of the day, the mentors in this room, right now, can be that one person for these kids.”
Mentor Danni Torres enjoys a game of Uno with one of her mentees.
“Middle-school is that age where kids need a little extra support,” one teacher explained afterwards. “For many of these kids, this is their toughest year --- when they are figuring out who they are. I’m excited to be a mentor so I can help give them the guidance they need to be better prepared for High-school, College, and beyond.”
Studies show that mentoring programs have a positive impact on academic achievement, as well as students social, behavioral, and mental well-being.
“Being a mentor is such a rewarding experience, ” Montecinos adds. “Students who form these one-on-one relationships with teachers – as friends --, grow and succeed in ways that they never might have accomplished on their own.”
Studies show that mentoring programs have a positive impact on academic achievement, as well as students social, behavioral, and mental well-being.
“Being a mentor is such a rewarding experience, ” Montecinos adds. “Students who form these one-on-one relationships with teachers – as friends --, grow and succeed in ways that they never might have accomplished on their own.”
Montecinos with one of the Opportunity Neighborhood Ambassadors at the MentorWorks Kick-off.
Orginally, students had to be invited in order to participate in Walt Whitman’s MentorWorks program; but the program has been so popular with mentees that many other students have asked to join in. Walt Whitman’s MentorWorks program currently has 25 students enrolled….with another 25 students on a waiting list, due to a shortage of mentors. (That’s up from just 33 total students enrolled in the program last Spring).
Mentors and Mentees enjoy a fun ice-breaker games to get to know each other
“We would love to have more mentors involved in our program; especially from outside of our school faculty,” Montecinos says. “We will probably need them, as the school year progresses and more students ask to join the program.”
If you would like to be involved in Walt Whitman Middle Schools MentorWorks program, please contact Delia Montecinos at delia.montecinos@unitedcommunity.org or 571-249-7069 .
If you would like to be involved in Walt Whitman Middle Schools MentorWorks program, please contact Delia Montecinos at delia.montecinos@unitedcommunity.org or 571-249-7069 .
