Mentor Coordinator Report
Stories & Quotes To Share:
Packed Calendar:
This month has been jam-packed with activities and wrapping up the year. Time is flying by, especially for seniors approaching graduation. On May 13th 45 students and mentors toured Bellingham Bay on our annual Sunset Cruise, enjoying an evening on the water with food, fun, and games. A number of students participated in spring sports, club events, state FFA, and more are putting on a multicultural evening tonight. We had a short month with holidays, a special school-wide Lip-dub and field day, and this week mentoring pairs had their final meeting of the year. The most common thing I heard was “I can’t believe this is our last meeting! The year went so fast!”
Longevity in Mentoring:
I have 22 seniors with mentors graduating next week; the largest cohort since we started BTO 13 years ago. Seeing the number of multi-year relationships and the depth of friendship and connection develop is incredibly rewarding. In this group of graduates, 9 have been with their mentors since middle school, and two of those pairs started together in the 6th grade! Another 10 students started with mentors in 9th grade and have continued all the way through. These relationships will endure into adulthood. As one senior stated in her interview: “6 years together is a beautiful thing. It’s so cool how one person can affect your life and mental health.” Her mentor put it this way: “My student is graduating, and we have been together since 7th grade. It’s amazing when I think how close we’ve become and who she is now as an adult. I’ve learned SO much from this experience. My student has truly made me a better person, this whole program has. I’m forever grateful.”
Highlights:
Highlights from the month:
· May 13th boat trip
· Final meetings; Edaleen Ice Cream for those who couldn’t go on the boat
· Collecting student and mentor surveys
Upcoming:
Upcoming:
· June 5th, graduation
· Summarizing student and mentor surveys for end of year report and planning for next year
Number of Current Matches: 71
Submitted by Lisa Reynolds – reynoldsl@lynden.wednet.edu