The mentor/mentee period (Flex) that the School District of Niagara designed is intended to increase attendance rates, academic achievement, and college and career readiness through relationship building and guidance with a mentor that will assist students in the appropriate path for their future. Intentions are to also identify social and emotional needs of students so they can be successful academically and socially.
The Flex period is developed for junior high and high school students to have a mentor (teacher) to provide guidance through their academic career. A junior high school student will have the same mentor from 6th grade on through 8th grade. Once the student hits 9th grade, they will get a new mentor and will keep that mentor through their high school career.
With high intentions, this program will create connections, relationships, and trust that will allow the students to feel comfortable with their mentor so they can communicate freely if needed. The mentor will also provide grade checks, attendance checks, and assessment checks. They will also assist with goal setting so the students are on a clear and successful academic path. The mentor also acts as an extra set of eyes and ears for those students who struggle socially and emotionally.
The program works like this: Each first day of the week, the students (mentees) will report to their Flex teacher (mentor). The mentor will review where each of the 12-15 students will report for the remainder of the week. Instructors can request students individually, by class, or by grade. Instructors may also include different “announcements” to specific groups or classes to welcome them into their classrooms for reviews, meetings, and extra tutoring. The students are then able request teachers that will be able to assist them in a specific content area. Other requests can be made by the guidance counselor for state testing, district assessments, ACT, ASPIRE, ASVAB, etc. The Flex period is also developed for the mentor to meet periodically with each student within their Flex period group to go over grades, attendance, assessments, and goal setting for college and career readiness.
With this Flex period, the School District of Niagara strives to create successful, self-aware, and self-sufficient students.
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