NEW BEDFORD, MA…Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) students are participating in a High School Mentoring Program for Success and a Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program.
The goal of the GLCPS Mentor for College Success Program is to provide an additional resource for high school students as they navigate their career path so they’re successful in college. While 95% of GLCPS high school students graduate; and 95% of them are accepted to college, post-graduation data suggests that there is a need for ongoing support beyond high school. The program also strives to support students who choose a career path upon high school graduation. The mentoring program is one part of a plan to increase the number of students who are successful on their individual paths.
Each mentor is matched with one student. Mentors meet face-to-face with their student once a month and once-monthly group meetings with the matches during which they work on college and career planning or career planning. Mentors and students communicate with each other via text, phone and/or email at least once per week. The group meetings are structured for casual conversation and a college/career activity facilitated by the GLCPS’ College and Career staff.
For those matches who cannot make it to the monthly meetings because of other obligations, they meet at the school, usually during lunchtime, one-to-one at least once a month.
Prior to the monthly meetings and weekly check-ins, mentors and students participate in an orientation and training. After that, there are at least two group meetings with ice-breaker and getting-to-know-one-another activities. Students and mentors are matched at a subsequent meeting based on a combination of student preferences, mentor input and staff observations.
“We all work together to nurture and strengthen the relationships so they will continue when the students are in college; so that once the students graduate, the mentors will continue to be a resource for those students. Mentors would serve as eyes and ears for GLCPS staff, and notify us if a student is struggling with an issue or situation in college.
Once the student graduates from GLCPS, the matches are free to meet and maintain electronic contact,” said Stephen Furtado Jr., Executive Director of GLCPS.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please call the school at 508-991-4105, and ask for Ms. Polochik or Ashley McPherson.
The peer-to-peer mentoring program pairs upper-class students (Grades 11 and 12) with students in grades 9 and 10. Currently, there are 6 students of each group participating. This is a prelude to the community mentoring program; basically, introducing the younger students to the benefits of having a mentor. In the peer-to-peer program, students meet one morning every two weeks.
