Mentor to Mentee Match Day at Warford

Check out this great story posted by Hickman Mills C-1 School District:

At the end of January, a group of Warford Elementary school students, their parents, and new mentors came together for a special Warford Mentor Mentee Match Day. The enjoyable night allowed the students to meet their newly named mentors and also allowed parents the chance to meet the person their child will be spending time with.

Erica Thomas, instructional coach at Warford, worked closely with the school’s church partners through the Caring for Kids organization to find mentors for 18 students. Thomas said the volunteers are from Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and Gracepoint Baptist Church. The event provided a light atmosphere that was friendly and exciting.

“We began with an activity by giving each child and each mentor a card that matched each other,” Thomas said. “Once they found each other, they sat together, had introductions, then played a get-to-know-you activity.”

Thomas described the students as being very excited to learn more about the person they will be spending time with over the next few months. The mentors are volunteering as part of HMC-1’s All-in Mentor Program. Each will visit with his or her student for one hour each week.

“I believe that it takes a village to raise a child,” Thomas said. “Along with parents and teachers, we have community members who care about the well-being of children and they wish to serve as mentors to our Warford students.”