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Become A Mentor
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A MESSAGE TO THE MENTORS
Dear Mentors,
Superior High School has required all senior students to complete a graduation project before receiving their high school diploma. The goal of the Senior Project is to provide all students with the opportunity to complete a student-selected project incorporating individual interests and meaningful real world experiences. The Senior Project includes a number of phases that must be completed throughout the senior year including; initial planning, research, communicating with others, maintaining a progress journal, and a final demonstration of knowledge by creating an oral/formal presentation at the end of the senior year.
One very important requirement is that all seniors find a mentor who has knowledge and experience within their project of choice to act as a guide and resource. The mentor may be a community member or a staff member at SHS but cannot be a relative. It is important that the mentor fully understands the time requirement and that the student is counting on him/her to provide a consistent level of feedback and support throughout the length of the project. If you feel you are unable to commit this much time and energy to the student, we ask that you respectfully decline and allow the student the opportunity to find another mentor who will be more accessible. In addition, we ask that all mentors provide the student with an opportunity to have a “hands-on” experience as much as possible in order to gain a full understanding of his/her project.
The mentor plays a vital role within the Senior Project and this experience can be equally rewarding for the mentor. We encourage you to take an active role in the Senior Project by asking you to first review The Role of the Mentor handout in the SHS Senior Project Handbook before accepting. If you have any questions regarding the Senior Project or the role of the mentor, please contact the school project coordinators. Thank you for your time and interest in the Senior Project! Should you be unable to fulfill the role of a mentor, there will be an opportunity to volunteer as a final presentation evaluator at the end of the school year. Please contact the school coordinators for more information.
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Definition of a Mentor:A person who is knowledgeable and/or experienced in a particular career or field of study. A mentor should be …
- A person who is willing to assist in the development of a project…
- A person who provides regular contact for a short period of time…
- A person who will provide constructive feedback…
- An adult no longer in high school.
NOTE: The mentor may be a community/business member or a staff member at SHS, but CANNOT be a relative.Expectations of a Mentor:
- Make a time commitment…
- Review and sign student’s Project Work Journal a minimum of 3 times throughout the project…
- Provide the student with a “hands-on” experience…
- Meet the student during the time of the project (June-March)…
- Be familiar with the process of the Senior Project and support all of the requirements…
- Help resolve roadblocks the student may face…
- Work with the school coordinator(s) to ensure successful completion of project…
- Contact project coordinator if student has missed an appointment or fails to fulfill his/her obligations…
- Offer suggestions regarding student’s final presentation for purposes of accuracy and completeness…
- Help create a realistic project to match student’s ability range.
As a Mentor you will:- Contribute to real world experiences for students in our community…
- Share your expert knowledge of a skill, profession, or business…
- Help our community meet the expectations of this new fast-paced technology age for our children…
- Influence the efforts and perspective of our youth…
- Build an information base for our youth that can help sustain our area and build our economy…
- Build and strengthen the partnership between SHS and your community…
- Know that your involvement and contributions will have an impact on the life of a young person.
ReferencesSERVE, a federally funded educational laboratory, conducting Senior Project research for the last 8 years.
Mentor.org
National Mentoring Center
New Trier High School, Winnetka, IL
Folsom High School, Folsom, CA
Natomas High School, Sacramento, California
Parma Senior High School, Parma, Ohio
Senior projects open windows, Idaho Mountain Express and Guide, December 10, 2004
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