As an elementary school counselor/S.A.C., I have set up many mentoring programs for my students over the years. We have had mentors from Montclair State, Montclair High School, the various middle schools, the Montclair Police Department  and from the Montclair community at large.These relationships have been very positive and I would like to formalize this process.

Bullock School is a K-5, Title 1 School. This year we have been designated as a Focus School by the state. With this in mind, I think it is especially important to reach out the students of color in a more targeted manner. I would like to start with the girls in the 3-5 grade age bracket and model a elementary program on the current Sister to Sister program at the middle and high schools in town. 

I have initially reached out to Adele Katz the coordinator of Sister to Sister in the district and to several other community volunteers. I would like to meet with these women and share my idea, get their feedback and learn more about the nuts and bolts of the program.

I will be working with my principal, a staff/caregivers committee and staff at Glenfield School which is the closest middle school to Bullock School.

The first few months would be used to research best practices and learn about setting up a program at Bullock. I would count on the experiences of the groups that have gone before me and we would adapt the program for the elementary students.

I hope to start group sessions in the Spring 2013 after gaining a better understanding of out reach, setting up groups, how to conncect mentors to mentees, the overall goals of the program and the basic weekly structure/programs/events. 

I am hoping that the middle and high school girls can act as mentors to our students as they are being mentored themselves. I want our girls to be prepared to move on the middle and high school. They need mentoring to be ready academically and socially.