Educators launch mentor program for elementary, high schools

WALTON, Ind. (AP) - Dozens of Lewis Cass students sat in pairs in the elementary school gymnasium Wednesday morning, playing card games, building LEGO blocks and assembling puzzles.

The students, ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old, met one another for the first time to talk and interact, creating a routine that'll continue throughout the semester. The mentor program paired up Lewis Cass Elementary School students, or "Little Kings," with their counterparts from Lewis Cass High School, the "Big Kings," both named for the corporation's mascot.

Andy Smith, assistant principal of the high school, and Ryan LaPlante, assistant principal of the elementary school, spearheaded the program, which they and other school employees have been coordinating for a few months. There are 40 pairs of high schoolers and elementary students.

LaPlante said Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cass County inquired with him in the fall about implementing their mentor program at the school. Instead of working through the organization, LaPlante and Smith decided to instead start an initiative within the corporation.

Smith asked students in the high school's National Honors Society if they wanted to be a part of the program. Forty of the 55 students in the academic club showed interest and committed. The corporation's social worker then led the students through a day of training in November.

Big Kings will meet with their Little Kings each week for about 20-30 minutes, Smith said.

"It's just a half hour out of our day for us," Sophomore Hannah Young said, "but I know it does mean a whole lot more for them and looking up to an older kid, they think that's awesome."

The high schoolers will meet with the students during their home room period each week. Sophomore Kaleb Lewellen said the program is a good experience to see his two Littles grow.

"I want to see what I can do to influence what they do on a daily basis and how I can really affect them and how they can also affect me," Kaleb said.

Senior Holly Widner said she played the card game UNO with her Little the entire time on Wednesday morning. She always wanted to join a mentoring program during her time in school.

"I want to be able to give her the chance to have someone to talk to and have that one person she can go to in help," Widner said about meeting with her Little King.

LaPlante said there are two major factors for student success: how they handle adversity and if they have positive adults in their life, or "anchors" as he calls them. Some might have a parent or grandparent, while others could also have a teacher, coach or pastor.

"The more you have, the more likely the successful you'll be," LaPlante said. "This is just to try and provide an extra anchor."

Fourth-graders Piper Toot, 11, and Harrison Clark, 11, said they both are hoping to get some help in their math studies while they meet with their Big Kings.

"I like it because they can help us," Piper said.

Harrison added that maybe he will also learn "a few tricks in sports" from his mentor.

LaPlante said one bit of wisdom that he's garnered though the process of creating the mentor program is from second-grade teacher Pam Roller. He calls it the "Roller Principle."

"Any interaction for our kids will be positive," he said, adding that making perfect pairs of students isn't as important as kids just spending time with an older role model.

Smith said he wants the program to cultivate a closer-knit community of students. All Lewis Cass students are on the same campus for the first time in many years, with the reorganization of schools, so younger students will see more of high schoolers than before.

"We hope to get this to be something that our high school kids strive to be a part of," he said.

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Source: (Logansport) Pharos-Tribune, http://bit.ly/2BbMWyl

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Information from: Pharos-Tribune, http://www.pharostribune.com