What a difference an "R" makes! (Click on photo to enlarge it.) The year's peer mentors with TLC staff. (Click on photo to enlarge it.) Two mints in one! It takes a village to get the word out.

Mentos for Mentors

A sweet treat in Upper School mailboxes draws attention to NCS’s peer mentor program.  Applications to be a peer mentor are due March 20!
This year's peer mentors designed an advertising campaign using Mentos and adding an 'R' to get the word out about the peer mentor program. Created at the request of students, the peer mentor program is a way for juniors and seniors to “give back” and help other students.

Now in its fourth year, NCS’s peer mentor program pairs juniors and seniors with other students. Peer mentors can work with any grade, but most “mentees” are in the 9th or 10th grades. A mentor shares her experiences as well as strategies to help the mentee be more efficient or effective in their school life. They don’t have to have taken the same courses; sometimes mentors just give 'big picture' context and help the mentee feel more reassured and confident.

Any rising junior or senior can apply to be a mentor for the next school year. You can find application forms here; they are due to the Teaching and Learning Center by Tuesday, March 20, the last day before spring break. (Note: teacher recommendation forms are due Wednesday, April 3.)  If selected as a peer mentor, you must commit to attend a retreat in the summer, and a weekly “supervision” session during the school year. At these weekly sessions with Teaching and Learning Center staff, peer mentors share ideas and strategies about mentoring, explore how it’s different than tutoring and why it’s important in women’s lives,

2012-2013 Peer Mentors

Eva Branson ‘14
Amanda Cunningham ‘14
Ann “Annie” Graham ‘14
Claudia Harrison ‘13
Araba Koomson '13
Emily Lesmes ‘13
Jane Lindahl ‘13
Aidana Saudabayeva ‘13
Colleen Ward ‘13

And here’s what they say about why it’s rewarding to be a peer mentor:

• "Not only do I help my mentee but my mentee helps me."
• "I enjoy seeing my peers and classmates de-stress."
• " I value being able to use what I have learned in my time at NCS and sharing it with others."
• " It is nice be to build relationships with other grades."
• "The most rewarding aspect for me was helping my mentees adjust to the high school workload and feel more confident."
• " Watching my mentee’s success, whether it’s a grade improvement or overall confidence in a topic, and knowing I played a part in that.”

Back

    • What a difference an "R" makes! (Click on photo to enlarge it.)

    • The year's peer mentors with TLC staff. (Click on photo to enlarge it.)

    • Two mints in one!

    • It takes a village to get the word out.