The Peer Mentor Program at Buzz Aldrin is part of a comprehensive effort to promote a safe and healthy culture within the school community and beyond. This program involves training selected 7th grade students in listening/helping skills, building self-confidence, problem-solving and decision-making. These trained peer mentors, then serve as volunteer support to both students and the staff during their 8th grade year. The emphasis being that Peer Mentors help the younger and new students make successful transitions into middle school. Ultimately, the goal of the Peer Mentor program is to enhance social connections among the students and staff through their interactions and participation both formal and informal.
Program participants have their biggest impact in the Advisory Program. Advisories are planned lessons/activities delivered during select extended homerooms on topics designed to support the development of social emotional competencies, critical thinking skills and healthy decision making in middle school students. Topics include Building Self-Confidence, Body Image, Gratitude, Respect, Study Skills, etc. Small groups of Peer Mentors are assigned to each 6th grade homeroom during several Advisories throughout the school year. Their role is to assist in the delivery of the topic information through role plays, facilitating interactive games and promoting active discussion. The Mentors are encouraged to get to know the students in their 6th grade homerooms, saying "hi" to them in the halls and reaching out to them as well as responding to requests for help.
Our peer mentors wear their purple t-shirts that say "Ask Me" to advertise to new students their willingness to offer directions or assistance during the first week of school.
Peer Mentors participate in the school wide events like performing arts shows, Back to School Night and Middle School Tours in the spring where they help lead groups of parents and prospective students on tours around the school. Some Peer Mentors volunteer to help out in the Special Education classrooms.
Finally, Peer Mentors must be willing and able to be outgoing and contribute to group discussions as well as model good behavior, thus we are looking for socially confident, academically conscientious students who have shown caring and leadership in school or in the community.
Please email Aja Douglas if you have any questions about applying for this program: [email protected].