| We Have an Exciting Year Planned! |
Thank you once again for your continued commitment to serve youth in Hillsborough County Public Schools! Certainly, the 2010-2011 school year will be filled with many opportunities to provide support, guidance, and advice to your mentee.
We are planning an exciting year! We will be providing opportunities for mentors to receive additional trainings as well as engage with other mentors to personally share success stories, topics of interests, and ideas for maximizing the mentoring experience.
In an effort to assist you in your role as a mentor, the Mentor Update will continue to contain valuable information and tools you may share with your mentee. The information and tools we will offer stem from results obtained from a survey conducted last year asking mentees, "What are some of the issues you might face next year at school?" The students expressed the following issues remain a concern as they begin this school year:
- Time management
- Testing: FCAT, SAT, ACT, etc.
- Participation in difficult courses
- Transitioning to a new school
- Financial aid and scholarships for college
- Peer pressure
As we present ideas for you to talk with your mentee about, please consider interjecting your own personal experiences. Your mentee will greatly benefit from your willingness to generously share your knowledge and life experiences.
Again, thank you for your time and dedication. You are making a difference in the life of a child! |
| Scheduling Your First Visit With Your Mentee: | |
 The beginning of the school year is filled with new classes, teachers, subjects, and sometimes even a new school. Please allow a few weeks for your mentee to become acclimated in their new school climate before attempting to schedule a visit. Mid-September will be an ideal time to re-enter the school after calling your School Ambassador and making an appointment. You will be receiving correspondence with school contact information in the near future.
When you arrive at the school for your first visit, you will be given a packet of paperwork you and your mentee will need to complete. You may leave the paperwork with the School Ambassador and it will be forwarded to Julie Rocco via school mail. Once the paperwork has been completed and returned, you are ready to commence your weekly visits at the school. You will need to work out a reasonable time to meet based on your mentee's schedule as well as your own. If you have difficulties with this process, feel free to contact Julie at (813) 574-0267 for assistance.
|
| Icebreakers: Getting To Know Your Mentee |  Whether you are building a new relationship or returning after a long summer break, try some of these icebreakers to start the conversation.
-
What was your favorite activity this summer?
-
What kind of books did you read?
-
Which movies did you go see?
-
Out of all the people you met this summer, who influenced you the most and how?
Once you've found out where your mentee has been, find out what goals he/she may have for the upcoming school year and help chart a course to achieve them.
Looking at a Great School Year
-
What classes are you taking?
-
What are your goals for this school year?
-
What does it take to reach your goals?
|
| KnowHow2Go Corner: | |
Talk with your mentee about building support systems for his/her quest to go to college. Develop a list of individuals your mentee may discuss college bound goals with and encourage him/her to seek support and guidance from several individuals. The list may include: family members, coaches, church members, teachers, counselors, etc. The more people aware of your mentee's desire to attend college, the better he/she may be positioned to receive assistance toward attaining the goal of college readiness and access.
|
| How to Help Keep Grades Up |
 Talk with your mentee about the importance of keeping grades up and asking for help when needed.
Provide Some Tips on Making Homework a Priority
-
Schedule a time each day for homework
-
Set up a dedicated work area at home away from distractions
-
Turn off your cell phone during your scheduled homework time
-
Review your notes or make flash cards to study 10 minutes each day
When Your Mentee Needs Help Offer These Suggestions
Check In Weekly
|
| Helpful Resources | These homework help sites are great for additional reference on assignments.
-
Purplemath.com and Algrebrahelp.com are great for math help
-
Hippocampus.org is a one-stop educational resource
-
Chatterbeeshomework.com has a list of free homework help sites
|
|
 |
| Mentors Needed |
| Have friends or colleagues who would make an amazing mentor? Send their information to Julie Rocco and she will contact them! | | Contacts | |
Programs Specialist
(813) 574-0267
Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Whether you have been a mentor for many years or just joined the program, we are excited to have you as part of our mentoring team.
The Foundation and your students are more than grateful for your dedication and the honor you bring to the title "MENTOR."
|
|
