Falmouth VIPS School-based Mentoring Programs
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Mentoring changes two lives. If you have one hour a week and would like to learn more about the difference you can make in the life of a Falmouth student, we'd love to hear from you! Check out our short video, produce by Brian Switzer Video, for a quick overview of the program. Then give us a call at (508) 548-1621 to schedule an appointment. |
Falmouth VIPS oversees a school-based mentor program known as Project RISE (initiated in 1994). The program grew out of a need, identified by school adjustment counselors, for caring individuals who could spend an hour a week with a student to serve as a role model, supporter, and friend. While many students in need of a mentor are considered to be at-risk for one or more factors, other students come to the program because they have recently experienced change or a difficult situation and may be finding it hard to cope. A mentor can make a significant difference in that student's self-confidence and self-esteem.
The VIPS school-based mentoring program has served as a model for other school districts, including Martha's Vineyard (the "Island Connections" mentoring program for ELL high school students), Bourne Middle School, Old Rochester Regional Vocational Technical High School (peer mentoring program), and Monomoy.
The VIPS school-based mentoring program has served as a model for other school districts, including Martha's Vineyard (the "Island Connections" mentoring program for ELL high school students), Bourne Middle School, Old Rochester Regional Vocational Technical High School (peer mentoring program), and Monomoy.
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Mentoring Works!
Check out this episode of Falmouth in Focus to see FHS Graduate James Barrett speak about his mentoring experience during a recent mentoring event at The Statehouse organized by Mass Mentoring Partnership. |
Thanks to The Falmouth Commodores for inviting VIPS mentors and their mentees to participate in the 2019 season home opener on June 10th! Mullen-Hall 3rd grader, Adam, got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch (right down the middle!) and the group stood behind home plate as VIPS volunteer and friend Troy Clarkson sang the national anthem. Mentors and mentees joined in on "Play Ball" to get the season started, and all enjoyed concession treats by Artie, games with the Commodores interns, and...a WIN for the home team!
Niisa Morton, VIPS Mentor Programs Leader,
mentor@falmouth.k12.ma.us
Learn More about Mentoring by contacting the Mentor Programs Leader, Niisa Morton at (508) 548-1621 or by sending an email to mentor@falmouth.k12.ma.us. We can provide an orientation session, training, and introduce you to our veteran mentors who are always happy to share their experiences with new volunteer mentors.
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Training and Support for Mentors
VIPS collaborates with many local organizations to provide orientation, training, and ongoing support to its mentors throughout the school year. During regular monthly meetings and special evening presentations, mentors are updated on issues relevant to their students by professionals from the region. Recently, Anne-Marie Iandoli, special education building administrator at Mullen-Hall Elementary School, spoke to mentors on Social Skills and Social Thinking.
Workshops
Workshops and other events provide opportunity for mentors and mentees to learn together
Each school year, Falmouth VIPS hosts opportunities for our mentors and mentees to get together as a group, either at their school or at a community event. Some recent examples include our elementary school storytelling workshops, which shared the theme Finding Your Superpower. Each workshop introduced the theme of finding the superpowers that may be hidden inside
At our middle school workshop, we watched the movie Mad Hot Ballroom with intermittent discussions on the challenges facing the kids in the movie.
The theme of the High School Workshop was Self-Reflection and Goal-Setting. Each mentee took an online personality test followed by a brief discussion on whether the results were true or not. A discussion of personal values and priorities trying to determine where they came from and why they held them. Mentees completed a worksheet on what values they thought were the most important in the people around them and a set of questions of how they prioritized these values and how they could turn them into realistic short-term and long term goals. Students at this age love thinking about themselves and who they are and are going to be. Counselors and mentors provided very positive feedback on how focused, serious, respectful and open the classroom discussion was among the students. This was a very successful activity that culminated in them writing a letter to their future selves with the hopes that they could be reflective now on who they want themselves to be in the future.
Support for the workshop was provide by funding from the Cape and Islands United Way and the State Mentor Matching Grant.
Each school year, Falmouth VIPS hosts opportunities for our mentors and mentees to get together as a group, either at their school or at a community event. Some recent examples include our elementary school storytelling workshops, which shared the theme Finding Your Superpower. Each workshop introduced the theme of finding the superpowers that may be hidden inside
At our middle school workshop, we watched the movie Mad Hot Ballroom with intermittent discussions on the challenges facing the kids in the movie.
The theme of the High School Workshop was Self-Reflection and Goal-Setting. Each mentee took an online personality test followed by a brief discussion on whether the results were true or not. A discussion of personal values and priorities trying to determine where they came from and why they held them. Mentees completed a worksheet on what values they thought were the most important in the people around them and a set of questions of how they prioritized these values and how they could turn them into realistic short-term and long term goals. Students at this age love thinking about themselves and who they are and are going to be. Counselors and mentors provided very positive feedback on how focused, serious, respectful and open the classroom discussion was among the students. This was a very successful activity that culminated in them writing a letter to their future selves with the hopes that they could be reflective now on who they want themselves to be in the future.
Support for the workshop was provide by funding from the Cape and Islands United Way and the State Mentor Matching Grant.
VIPS Mentors Guests at Falmouth Commodores Game
Thanks to our friends at the Falmouth Commodores, VIPS mentors and mentees were guests at the home opener of the Commodores game. In addition to meeting the players, matches were on the field for the national anthem, a mentee threw out the first pitch, and all joined in for the "Play Ball!" announcement.
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