Mentors

Mentors, in Upper Division, fosters positive communication and values and provides support for the social and emotional life of seventh and eighth graders. Students meet twice a week in small groups, each led by a faculty or staff member, for a retreat together from the academic week and a forum to talk about their concerns. Activities and discussions take place within students’ own Mentor group and in larger cross-group meetings. While

Students meet twice a week in small groups, each led by a faculty or staff member, for a retreat together from the academic week and a forum to talk about their concerns.

students often determine discussion topics, all groups address topics relevant to adolescence, including drug and alcohol education, bullying, eating disorders, personal and learning styles, conflict resolution, responsible decision-making, and values clarification. Specialists from outside the school sometimes lead such discussions and activities.

Mentor groups carry out Community Service projects, plan division assemblies and dances, and compete in trivia challenges and other games. Mentor groups take on responsibilities normally held by student government. The projects students undertake help them develop accountability and leadership skills.

Mentor leaders steer group sessions and serve as one-on-one advisors, discussing students’ issues and academic progress. Mentors advocate for students, represent them at faculty meetings and help negotiate any conflicts with other teachers. Finally, Mentors are conduits for information between home and school for the students. It is the Mentor leader rather than the homeroom teacher who conducts regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences for students in the Upper Division.