Middle School mentor program going strong
Long Beach Middle School recently held a kickoff celebration to mark the sixth year of its Mentor Program. Fifty-three teachers and staff members have volunteered to take part in the program, providing added academic, emotional and social support for a group of 70 students. The kickoff party gave the students a chance to meet their mentors and socialize with each other. During the course of the year students will meet about once a week with their mentors, who will be there to help them with homework, eat lunch together, collaborate on arts and crafts, bake cookies, give advice or just lend a friendly ear. They will also get together for several group activities throughout the year.
The program was started in 2003 by Vice Principal Keith Biesma to give students a little extra guidance from a caring and trusted adult as they navigate the many challenges of their adolescent years.
“Students in the program really build a special bond with their mentors,” Biesma said. “The staff has been overwhelmingly supportive of the program. They have been willing to go beyond just curriculum and classroom teaching to help these students succeed.”
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