Student+Mentoring+Program

Democracy and Active Citizenship Project

__Problem Statement:__
Problem Statement

(Vision) Communities should create an environment that raises healthy, successful, and loved children.

(Issue Statement) Students around the United States do not have positive adult guidance to help foster self-esteem, education, and healthy habits. Young people desire to have more adult influence; however, outside of the parents, many students are not given a reliable source for security. Due to the sometimes inability of a child’s parents or neglect, these children sometimes never receive the advice that could make all the difference for their future.

(Method) Create a mentoring program at the high school in order to directly impact the younger students within the North Kingstown School Department.

__Bill or Policy:__
Proposal

Today, students and young children do not have sufficient role models in their lives to guide them into a brighter future. In a national survey conducted by the //America’s Promise Alliance//, a third of young people say they lack adult role models who volunteer and help others and twenty-percent lack quality relationships with parents. This national problem is no exception in the North Kingstown School Department. Children without support and guidance are at a severe disadvantage.

When the community comes together to fight for our youth’s future, all kids will have at least one adult in their lives to lift them to success. Every child will have a responsible partner to help them set and achieve goals throughout his or her lives. Schools will be filled with not a minority of driven, confident students, but an entire student body.

This is no easy task. The only way to reach this goal in the future is to make strides today. I propose the creation of //Students for Students of Tomorrow//, a district-wide mentoring program. High school students with maturity and leadership qualities will be paired with an at-risk elementary school student from within the district. The mentor will meet with his or her child at a minimum of twice a month. Activities will include fun, friendship-based meetings and encouraging tutoring sessions to build confidence and academic goal setting. Every three months all mentors will meet at the high school to build a sense of community. Parent and district faculty will be welcomed to view the progress of the program at this time.


 * __Lobbying Plan:__**

Lobbying Plan Timeline 1.) September 1: Send letters to principals 2.) October 1: Send letters to School Committee Members; use the input from principals as support
 * Follow-up within two weeks by e-mail
 * Follow-up within two weeks by phone

Sponsors 1.) Partner with National Honor Society and Interact Club to offer community service opportunities 2.) Contact the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership

Opposition 1.) Budgeting issues
 * Fundraise to avoid

Committee Meetings 1.) Attend the first School Committee Meeting to propose program
 * Have interested students tell committee of the opportunities they wish to afford the elementary school students
 * Have parents and high school students hold up signs of “Mentor a Child Today, Make a Stronger Community” and “Fight for Our Youth, Create a Positive Future”

__Direct Action Plan:__
Direct Action Plan

Problem: Children in the community lack positive role models for guidance.

Goals: Create a district-wide mentoring program. Influence children and improve their academic and social lives.

Action Steps: Contact officials in the School Committee. Contact principals from elementary schools in the district. Gain approval for mentoring program.

Task: Individuals in support of the project can create flyer, posters, and leaflets. Only the most informed members will write letters and advocate publicly in order to portray the most organized, informed message. All supporters will come to the committee meetings to offer testimonial and carry signs.

Timeline: All tasks will be carried out in the beginning of the school year. The first month will be dedicated to letter writing and gaining a strong following. During this time contacting the principals will be the first step. The second month will be involved in contact School Committee Members and setting up an appearance at a meeting to propose the mentoring program.

Supporters: Supporters could be parents, faculty, and administration. Clubs such as Interact Club or National Honor Society could be areas to gain mentors.

Obstacles: Budgeting and coordination among the schools will be the largest obstacle. Finding a way to make is as cheap and safe to hold after school meetings will be hardest.

Evaluation Plan: After each step has been completed and all possible supporters have been followed up with, success will be measured by progress. First, being what schools support us? Then, is the committee interested? Will we be able to provide a strong mentor membership?

Budget: The budget will only consist of the cost of printing out flyer, leaflets, and posters and sending of letters. These needs can be met by each individual carrying the cost of their particular assignment.

__Leaflet / Flyer:__
Fight for Our Youth! Mentor a Child Today! Come to School Committee Meeting to support the proposal for //Students for Students of Tomorrow//, a mentoring program for the district. Questions? Contact Sage Morander at 996-8322 or sage.morander@gmail.com

__Press Release:__
For Immediate Release Contact: Sage Morander May 19, 2011 Cell: 401-996-8322

Students for Students of Tomorrow **Mentoring program brings district children closer to teenage role models. ** North Kingstown, RI – Mature North Kingstown High School students are looking to institute a mentoring program in the district. Over 30 students plan to attend the next School Committee Meeting to propose and lobby for the program.

“I feel that the mentoring program could be a great opportunity for high school students to build leadership skills, while also creating a positive relationship with the children in the community,” stated Stephanie Anderson, a junior and Vice-President of the National Honor Society and at the high school.

The aim of //Students for Students of Tomorrow// will be to establish confidence, mature decision-making, and goals in younger students’ lives. The most effective way to improve a child’s life is to be a responsible role model. Interactions with their mentee will help create a nurturing friendship.

“I think the program would be a great addition to our after school opportunities. The students at the school would truly benefit from the influence of these young adults,” said Principal Ed Ferrario of Stony Lane Elementary School.

Students who will become members of the program once it is launched, plan to build events for the children and the community every three months. It is through this the program hopes it will be able to bring the community together in support of its children once the mentoring begins.

The programs coordinator and activist for mentoring the elementary school students, Sage Morander, is offering an informational session about //Students for Students of Tomorrow//’s goals and principles at the end of this week.

###

__Letter to Elected Official:__
 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">May 5, 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Richard A. Welch <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">School Committee Chairperson <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">8 Arrow Lane <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">North Kingstown, RI 02852 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Dear School Committee Chairperson Richard A. Welch,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I am currently a junior at North Kingstown High School and attended schools in this district since early elementary school. As a student of four schools within the North Kingstown School Department throughout the years, I have seen varying student populations. In addition, I still visit and volunteer at elementary and middle schools due to the fact that my mother is para-professional in this town.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I believe younger students in our schools do not have enough positive, caring role models in their lives. While I truly feel that our schools have great young people in them, the fact remains that students without mature influences are at a disadvantage. Children cannot force the adults in their lives to be role models. This is what our school department as a community can give these children. According to the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, kids with mentors are less likely to begin using drugs and alcohol, skip school, and engage in violence. Also, America’s Promise Alliance which is a national organization that has surveyed young people across the nation reports that ninety-four percent of these individuals want to help make the world a better place.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">By establishing an organization that matches at-risk elementary school and middle school students with mature, college bound high school students, we can provide both a changing force in the younger students’ lives and give the young adults an opportunity to lead change in their school community. My hope is that a student-based mentoring program would be instituted in our school department. In order for this to happen, I will need the support of school committee members such as yourself as well as minimal funding for the club to allow transportation. I know that as a school community, mentoring can uplift both the child and those involved.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I thank you for your time and attention to this proposal. I would greatly appreciate hearing your opinion on the subject.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sincerely,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Sage Morander

__Letter to the Editor:__
<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: right;">May 27, 2011 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Karen Bordeleau <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Executive Editor <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The Providence Journal <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">75 Fountain Street <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Providence, RI 02902 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">To the Editor,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">I am student at North Kingstown High School. Over the years I have noticed that some young children are left behind without the support of an adult. Not just in North Kingstown but in Rhode Island as an entire state I feel we need to improve our fight for the future success of our youth. It is clear that without guidance, no matter where a child lives, he or she will struggle to achieve his or her dreams. All Rhode Island communities owe it to our young people to protect and nourish their development. As I come out of my own adolescence, I realize I can help. I am writing because I feel that teens and young adults have the desire and capability to be role models for the younger students in their towns, but teenagers feel they lack an outlet to achieve this goal. Currently, I am working on forming a mentoring program in my school district to provide such an avenue. With the help of not only adults but also young adults, I feel that Rhode Island’s youngest members would see a much brighter future. Perhaps, more schools could be inspired to create the opportunity for themselves and the children to build confidence. Thank you for your time. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sincerely,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sage Morander

__Public Service Announcement:__
PSA THE NORTH KINGSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM //STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS TOMORROW// IS RALLYING FOR SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING FRIDAY NIGHT. COME JOIN THE FIGHT FOR OUR YOUTH. GET ON YOUR WAY TO BEING A MENTOR TODAY! RADIO STATIONS TO BROADCAST: 92.3, 93.3, 107.1 (GENERAL RADIO STATIONS THAT PLAY POPULAR MUSIC—REACH A VARIETY OF LISTENERS)

Project Completed by: Sage Morander, sage.morander@gmail.com