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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1995-05-03, Page 3i II�t TH��IEPY.S Times -Advocate, May 3, 1995 Page 3 The power behind the smiles in the halls Students helping students through tough times Ingrid Nielsen T -A Staff EXETER - Tired of the negative attention the school receives, a group of SHDHS students are anxious to prove that there is some good news among students to- day, and that it can all start with making a new friend. Peer mentors is program designed to help students adjust to the transition between grade eight and grade nine, the first year of high school. The program is com- posed of 35 older students at SHDHS who are helping about 25 younger students, either by simply being a friendly face in the hall to being a full-blown saviour in a case of personal trauma. The program began in Scaforth, with Val Millson the part-time co-ordinator. The initial pur- pose was to encourage students to stay in school, and to show them that someone cares. "In a haphazard way we started matching older students with younger students, and it has sort of evolved into a really helpful tool to help people stay in school," says Millson. The program has evolved over the past four years throughout Huron County, and Millson is now a full-time coordinator. She is funded by the Huron County Board of Education and Human Resources Develop- ment. Her office is in Clinton, and she tries to travel the different schools at least once a week. The success of the program, "says a lot for the youth that I work with, because I wasn't really around for the first four years. It was the kids in the schools," says Millson. The mentors are chosen through ap interview pro- cess. They receive a full day training in how to be, "genuine...learning things like empathy and under- standing, and how to help people deal with their prob- lems," says Michelle Ducharme, student coordinator of the program at SHDHS. "You learn to avoid asking questions that can be an- swered yes or no, because that can lead to silence," says Ducharme. The younger students become part of the program in many ways. At the elementary or high school level, a teacher or guidance counsellor may see a student who is having difficulties and recommend him or her to the program. A parent might ask to have their student in- volved. Sometimes, the student will ask about joining the program herself. It is then important that the mentor and the mentee "connect". They are paired off according to personality types, how close they live, and general common inter- ests. Once the match is set, the two start to get to know each other. as "There's really no set time that we have to spend. Some relationships consist of a telephone call once a week, once a month. Some people will just phone up and say hi, how are yoo doing? It could be a hello in the halls. It could be a planned activity after school. Anything. It all ranges with the different relationships," says Du- charme. "It's just like making a new friend, a new person in your life," says Lorna Miller, a member of the Peer Mentors. Melissa Brock, who is a Peer Mentor, has a situation which is somewhat unique. Her younger buddy, Dave Marshall, has moved in with Brock due to personal cir- cumstances. "Our situation is a little unusual," says Brock. Marshall says, "I've cleaned up my act. I have been doing better in school too, since December," when he started with the program. Not all the mentors are paired up with l younger students. Some of the senior members who might be too busy for a full-time buddy, will help out at events, share advice, or "be another friendly face in the halls," says Millson. Some of the events that bring all the mentors and mentees together include bowling, pot luck dinners, and movie nights. The job of mentor is not easy. Some of the younger students can be hard to reach, and the mentors may feel like they aren't doing enough to help their young friends. "Sometimes she seems afraid of me," says one men- tor about her mentee. "I have to make a real effort to go up and talk to her." Millson understands this frustration and quickly points out, "The mentors often don't realize how powerful they really are in these young people's lives. They of- ten idolize them." Another frustration these students feel, is the way their high school is viewed in the community. "I think it is important that people realize, and say wow, these students are really making a difference. Things can get pretty negative," says Miller. "There are good things happening here." "The community reads the paper, and when some- thing bad goes on here, it's normally front page. When something positive goes on it's back on the third or fourth page," says Brock. In the end, the mentors and mentees agree that the experience they share is a truly positive one. "Sometimes we help ourselves too," says Ducharme. "I've learned a lot about myself through the pro- gram." "It's just like making a new friend, a new person in your life..." to IsafuIitirne fire chief. necessary for Exeter? Chief Middleton may retire early at the end of this year due to health reasons By Heather Mir T -A staff EXETER - The question of whether or not Exeter needs a full-time fire chief was raised by councilor Roy Triebner Monday night when council heard present chief Gary Middleton could retire in Oc- tober. Councillor Robert Drummond, who presented the fire board report, said Middleton could retire due to health reasons and the fire board was rec- ommending the position be posted internally to find a new chief. Triebner said he felt the position should be stud- ied. He added the board should at least undertake an organizational review to calculate possible financial savings and separate the physical demands of the position from the administrative tasks. "Whenever opportunities present themselves, we should study the situation," said Triebner. The fire board reported to Council their share of the assessment for1995 increased slightly for Exeter white Usborne's share decreased. The total assessment for Exeter is $203,219,365, up to 61.44 per cent of the total. Usborne's assess- ment is $94,467,985 which is down slightly to 28.56 per cent of the total. Both Stephen and Hay main- tained their assessment at five per cent. The budget report indicated the period ending March 31, 1995 was on target and the new com- munication system will require a ground short loop and ringing generators at a cost of $575 plus taxes. Melissa Brock helps her friend and men - tee, Dave Marshall with his daily home- work. 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