River Hills Lions Club

RHLC Middle School Mentoring Program Starting March 31, 2008

River Hills Lions Club is adding to its repertoire of educational services by answering the call for middle school mentoring! If you were present at the February 16, Saturday Lions breakfast meeting you have already experienced the welcoming invitation Will Largen, Principal, Crowder’s Creek Middle School, and Kathy Weathers, Principal, Clover Middle School extended to our membership. Both stressed the importance of helping students develop and maintain good relationships, the core success ingredient for all human endeavor.

The program is scheduled to start on Monday March 31^st, the day classes resume after the Spring Recess. Prior to start, there will be an organization meeting at 4:30 p.m., at Crowder’s Creek Middle School on Tuesday, March 18^th. A number of Lions have already volunteered, but opportunities abound. Be assured, based upon your preferences and time availability, a place will be found for you.

Both schools offer opportunities for early morning, mid-day and afternoon service ranging from tutoring to just being a friend for youngsters for whom the extra attention now may very well pay a life time of dividends. Volunteers could choose to serve as early as 7:00 a.m. with before school study programs. For those who prefer a mid-day meeting, “lunch buddies” can meet with one or several kids during one or more lunch periods. Although starting and ending at different times in each of the schools, half hour lunch periods are staggered between as early as 10:15 and ending as late as12:45 p.m. Working with youngsters during after school homework/study time is another option. You pick the time and school or schools. The school will connect you.

All student/volunteer meetings will be held at the child’s school. Both principals have stated their eagerness to regularly share information with individual mentors and to provide access to any necessary instructional materials. As well, both agreed that communication between teachers and volunteers would be to a child’s advantage. Additionally, should a mentor experience anything of concern, either administrator will promptly address the issue. Both want volunteers to be comfortable in providing service. No mentor will be serving in isolation.

Effectiveness involves commitment to meeting with given youngsters at least once per week. However, volunteers may work in teams to provide continuity should one volunteer need to be absent for any reason. Flexibility will be an integral part of this initiative. There will be periodic mentor meetings to share experiences and develop future plans. Additionally there will beregular information sharing meetings between individual mentors and school personnel. Constant volunteer support will be the norm.

If at all possible, please plan to attend the March 18 meeting to offer your own counsel, ask your questions, and state your preferences. If attending is not an option for you, but you do wish to participate, please complete the attached Preference Chart to indicate your choices. Please send completed forms to me, Frank Van Leer, at 383 Bethel School Rd. Of course, please feel free to email or phone me with questions. If you prefer, please bring your completed form along to the March 18 meeting. Also, be assured that nothing is “written in stone” at this point. Everyone is agreed that, presently, we are all “feeling our way” and that adjustments will be the norm as we work to develop effective programs that may very well differ between the two schools.

The bottom line, however, is that volunteers make the program. We need you and anyone whose participation you believe would be beneficial to youngsters. Please do let other folks know of our initiative and welcome them to join our effort. Additionally, please actively convey that your friends, like you, will be seizing an opportunity to do something of lasting significance. Participation will send the message that adults have a stake in youngsters’ success, that adults win when young people win, that they are worth adults’ time and effort.

Sharing some of what follows may help people to commit some to their time to mentoring.

Through the connecting relationship, mentors personally model positive behaviors middle school kids will emulate. Think of your favorite Uncle Charlie or Aunt Rita, who took the time to talk, really talk with you. As a result, you wanted to be like Uncle Charlie or Aunt Rita. Similarly,, mentors show how to live more comfortably with others and achieve more personal success. Mentors help kids make sense of the adult world. By allowing kids to question, examine and evaluate options and their consequences just by listening to and talking with them, mentors show kids they are important. Like an investment’s compound interest payment, mentoring provides lifetime human relations dividends. Most often mentors receive far in excess of what they give.

Imagine being remembered with a smile. Imagine being the catalyst for a kid choosing life. Imagine your positive effect upon many lives just by spending some time with a kid.

Thanks again for your interest. I look forward to your participation and counsel. Most importantly, I look forward to meeting with you on March 18 and to working with you! Please inform me as to whether you will be attending. Remember, if you cannot attend, but wish to participate, please send me your completed Preference Chart before March 18. Thanks!

Be well!

Frank Van Leer

Education Chairperson

River Hills Lions Club

803-631-3543