DIXFIELD – Seven years ago, Dirigo High School students began mentoring 14 Dixfield Elementary School pupils, providing encouragement, inspiration and help with social skills.
Modeled after Big Brothers Big Sisters, the program has since helped about 300 elementary and middle school students, said Dirigo Mentoring Program manager Katherine Harvey.
Now, thanks to a $140,000, three-year federal grant, she and Dirigo Middle School Principal Thomas Starratt want to enlarge the program.
“We’ve been very successful getting upper-class, high school kids as mentors, but now, we’re looking to expand the adult piece,” Starratt said.
Some children, Harvey said, need adults more than they do high-school-age youths.
“They need an adult in their life, and they just don’t have it,” she said.
“But we’re not looking for parents for these kids. We’re looking for mentors – friends to raise their vision and encourage them. The key thing is to get them to believe in themselves,” Starratt said.
Some have to wait
He said that program officials have always tried to recruit adults.
Currently, there are 45 secondary school mentors and two adults working with middle school youths, and 12 teens helping at Peru School.
There also are 15 children on a waiting list who need adult mentors willing to spend an hour a week with them, during school or after school.
“Twenty minutes in academics, 20 minutes in a physical activity. Basketball is a big thing for us, as is Uno. And Connect-4, that’s huge. The kids just love to play,” Harvey said.
The grant, Harvey said, will allow her to hire a person to actively recruit adult community members for mentoring.
The goal is to try and raise self-confidence and social competence levels, as well as to instill a sense of caring in youths in grades four through eight.
“When you do that, you bring their grades up and improve attendance,” Starratt said.
Additionally, Harvey said they also want to help the youngsters understand what constitutes healthy choices, like avoiding substance abuse and coping with stress.
“This is just not about helping low-achieving kids; it’s also high achievers, who are just bored,” Starratt said.
“As a mentor, you get to be a friend, listener, helper, motivator and coach. It’s a very easy thing to do,” Harvey added.
The grant is also expected to help provide opportunities for children to participate, such as taking a trip to Boston or getting involved with a club.
“We’re going to be starting an ecology club at the middle school, and we’re looking for foresters, specifically, to be mentors,” Harvey said.
More information about the Dirigo program may be obtained by calling 562-6075.
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