The Mountaineer Mentoring Program is new to West Orange High School this year. The program provides Juniors and Seniors to be positive role models to incoming freshman as well as the community at large. Junior and Senior students apply to the program and go through a screening process and are notified in June of their acceptance. Mentors make a year long commitment to the program with training during the summer in such areas as leadership, communication, diversity, and other positive qualities. Mentors conduct a “Freshman Orientation” during the summer, which allows freshman to come into the high school before school starts for a comprehensive tour, student orientation, and ID pictures. Mentors are assigned to all freshman sections and meet with them every marking period to discuss such topics as peer pressure, academic challenges, student life and qualities needed to be a successful high school student.
Our mentors have taken part in “Back to School Night” , “West Orange West-O-Ween Day”, and provided a “Freshman Brunch” for the freshman class and their parents to help welcome them into the high school community. Mentors discussed and answered questions on Keys for Success as a High School Student.
The program is designed to make the transition from middle school to high school as less stressful as possible and to provide information, support, and encouragement for success as a high school student and a resource for parents. Mentors connect with freshman and become a big brother/big sister to help freshman with the many challenges that face them in the first year of high school.
The West Orange Mountaineer Mentors Program will sponsor a District Wide “Dr. Seuss Celebration/Slumber Party” for all district elementary school 1st and 2nd graders. High school mentors will be going to all elementary schools on March 16, 2010 and pair up with 1st and 2nd grade classes to read some of Dr. Seuss favorite books and do a book marker craft activity, along with coloring several Dr. Seuss classic story characters with the elementary students. Mentors will transform our elementary schools into “HOOVILLE” as they make Dr. Seuss come alive, so remember to wear your PJ’s that day!!!
Avid Students and 9th grade social studies students are taking part in a Community Service Project during the months of January, February, and March. Students are conducting a “Hygiene Drive” and collecting items to be sent to a small village in Africa. This effort is in partnership with the Mayor’s town wide decree to “Adopt-One-Village”. Anyone wishing to make donations can drop off personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap, band aids, and shampoo outside the Conforti Office.
Mentors will be sponsoring a school wide “Spring Festival” in June. . . Stay tuned for the details!!!!
Any questions about community service, please contact Mr. Victor A. Paglio, Jr, Coordinator of Community/School Based Programs.