The Huron Expositor, 1994-02-23, Page 2`da
11,
et
4,1"
ST. JAMES
Celebrates Lent '94
LENTEN MASSES:
Mon., Tues. & Wed. 10:00 A.M.
Thursday - 7:30 P.M.
Friday 9:15 A.M.
Saturday 10:00 A.M.
WAY OF THE CROSS:
Every Friday 7:30 P.M.
CONFESSIONS:
Saturday 10:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
4:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
SUNDAY MASSES: Saturday 7:00 P.M.; Sunday 8:30 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.
"LENT IS A TIME FOR A CHANGE OF HEART!!!"
Sincerely Yours
(Fr. J. Henry Cassano)
2 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, February 23, 1994
Lifestyle
Youth are hel. ing youth
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Staff
Being a 13 or 14 year-old can be
a time of great change: preparing
for high school, dealing with emo-
tional and physical changes, and
changing relationships and perspec-
tives of your family, friends and the
opposite sex. It's a good time to
have a friend, someone who's been
through it and survived. But not
someone too much older. That's
where the Peer Mentoring program
for Huron County schools comes
into play.
The mentor program is an off-
shoot of the START program, a
stay in school enrichment program,
administered through Employment
and Immigration Canada. While the
START program focusses on job
skills and the benefits of staying in
school, the, Peer Mentoring
program's emphasis is on building
networks of support among the
youth.
"If a student has a problem,
they're likely to go to another stu-
dent (instead of a teacher or other
adult)," said Andrea Gingerich, the
student coordinator for the Peer
Mentoring program at Seaforth
District High School. The grade 12
student has been active in the pro-
gram during the three years of its
existence.
Social worker,. Val Millson
Jansen, with the Huron County
Board of Education, wanted to start
a "Big Brother, Big Sister" type of
program with students when the
mentor program began. "Students
have a feeling of isolation, of not
being connected to anyone," said
Millson Jansen.
The mentors are high school
students in grades 10, 11 and 12.
They are matched up with public
school students in grades 7, 8 and
9.
Peer Mentoring began at Seaforth
high school three years ago. Millson
Jansen coordinates the program
with the help of a guidance council-
lor and an elected student
coordinator at each of the five
Huron County high schools.
The coordinator of the program
for the Huron County Board of
Education talks about its benefits.
"Students naturally go to each
other for support. It also provides
students with direction . to pro-
fessionals. Community agencies
want to lie involved as well," Said
Millson Jansen. Survival Through
Friendship House in Goderich has
offered training sessions and infor-
mation for the program on sexual
assault. The Huron County Health
Unit also supports the mentor pro-
gram and wants to become more
involved in helping with health
issues.
In the larger schools involved,
like South Huron Secondary School
in Exeter, 37 mentors are involved
in the program. Millson Jansen
recently interviewed 30 students for
10 remaining spots for mentors.
The mentors are nominated by
their peers and teachers and go
through a training program with the
Board of Education coordinator.
Jonathan Bell has been a mentor
for the past two years and enjoys
participating in the program.
"We're someone away from home
that accepted them. We share a lot
of interests," said Bell, who men-
tioned improved interpersonal skills
and communication as benefits of
the mentor program.
Mentors are matched with stu-
dents of the same sex. Currently
there are more- female partners
involved than males irfmtAturon
County high schools. Clinton is the
only school that is about half and
half male and female participants.
Funding is a major concern for
the future of this program. The
Seaforth high school peer mentoring
program is helped out by a $100
DAVID SO3T1' PHOTO
THE MENTOR TEAM - This group represents a cross-section of the current Peer Mentoring Program
at Huron County schools. It involves okler student mentors from the five Huron County high schools who
are teamed up with younger students or 'buddies' from the same high school or from grade 7-8 classes
at the public elementary schools in the same area. The Huron County Board of Education coordinator
for the program is social worker Val Millson Jansen. From left: Tama Smith, grade eight student; Mandy
Hadenko, grade 11; Julie Hill, grade nine; Jonathan Bell, grade 12; Kathleen Dunn, grade 12; Val Millson
Jansen, program coordinator; Andrea Gingerich, student coordinator, grade 12.
Students enjoy mentor program
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Staff
The success of the Peer
Mentoring program in Huron
County Schools can be measured by
the response of the participants.
Tama Smith, a grade eight student
from Seaforth Public School, is in
her first year of the Peer Mentoring
Program and 'has been teamed up
with mentor Mandy Hadenko, a
grade 11 student at Seaforth District
High School.
Mandy and Tama meet twice a
month and go out on excursions or
just sit down and talk.
"We talk and share things about
everything - school, life," said
Hadenko.
"I think it's fun. I like going
places together," said Smith.
Mandy joined Tama's grade eight
class for a toboggan trip recently.
"The mentors provide some sup-
port (for the younger students) and
prepare them for high school," said
Millson Jansen. The coordinator
tries to match mentors and students
who have similar backgrounds,
interests and who live in the same
area.
Seaforth District High School
currently has 14 mentors and 13
buddies involved in the Peer
Mentoring program.
Kathleen Dunn, a grade 12 men-
tor at Seaforth high school, was
matched with Julie Hill, a student in
her first year of high school.
"We get together twice a morin.
We see each other in the hallway!!
and chat. I'm there for a friend,"
said Dunn, who feels the program
is helpful. "I'm glad to know I'm
helping in some way. I'm a lot
happier knowing I can put a smile
on her face."
Julie, a grade nine student, enjoys
the peer mentoring program. "It's
cool. She takes me out for lunch,"
said Hill. Before she began the
program Julie was scared to walk
through the front hall of the school
alone. Like Tama, Julie doesn't
have any older brothers or sisters
who have been through high school
and can relate their experiences to
them.
Don Tremeer, principal of
Seaforth Public School has praise
for the program. "I think it's great.
I've heard nothing but positive
feedback. The 'transition years'
philosophy is being promoted by
this program," he said.
The popularity of the program has
grown. "We always have a waiting
list," said Millson Jansen. Peer
mentoring is in a transition year.
"We're looking at doing
mentoring full time and channelling
funding to it."
budget from their student council.
"It's creative economics," said
student coordinator, Andrea
Gingerich.
Currently there are approximately
150 mentors in Huron County high
schools with most student
coordinators having been involved
for the entire three years of the
program's existence.
Some of the issues mentors have
dealt with in Huron County during
their time with their buddies
include: staying in school, different
peer groups and peer pressure,
family matters, single parent fam-
ilies, alcohol and substance abuse,
pregnancy, suicide, violence at
home, sexual assault.
The student coordinators are
trained to deal with problems effec-
tively. If a serious problem arises,
mentors(in conjunction with their
buddies) can go to their student
coordinator or the program
coordi , and through the proper
prilfea l channels if the need
arises.
MiUson Jansen and student
coordinators have been invited by
various boards of education, includ-
ing schools in London and
Hamilton, to do sentations on
What are
mentors?
• a friend, pal, buddy
• a good listener
• a role model
• advisor
• respectful of confidence
• non -judgmental
• caring and understanding
• trusting
• supportive
• reliable
• problem solvers
Mentors are
not:
• a babysitter
• a social worker
• "Santa Claus"
• a teacher
Objectives of •
peer mentoring
To build networks of support
among youth in order to:
• empower youth to take owner-
ship of and solve problems of a
personal nature.
• decrease youth's feelings of
isolation within the educational
system and community system.
• provide a direct, nonthreaten-
ing link between youth and
community programs,
counselling services and the
educational system.
• enhance the awareness of
youth, community professionals
and educators to the needs of
"at -risk youth."
• create a sense of community
among youth both within the
educational system and the com-
mpnity at large.
• decrease the development of
gang -related behaviour and
facilitate structured community -
bases group activities for youth.
their peer mentoring program.
"They wanted to hear about our
program "
Linda Doig is a guidance council-
lor who works with students.
"We're working on getting the peer
mentors more involved with the
student body so students get to
know them. Their functions are
becoming mom varied - from peer
mentoring to dealing with problems
of sexual assault. We need recogni-
tion for mentors and support," said
Doig.
Funding for the continuation of
the peer mentoring program is
currently being sought.
MASS TIME CHANGE
Beginning Sunday Mar. 6, 1994
St. Columban's Highway 8 9:30 AM
St. Patrick's Dublin 11:00 AM
For More Information
Call 345-2411
LYON'S
FOOD MARKET
WO/1 /JLLeiei-
"GIFT OF
A
.LIFETIME"
FREE I1OTO.OF YOUR CHILD
• OR FAMILY PORTRAIT
• NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR GROUPS
• PROFESSIONAL CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER
• NO AGE LIMIT
• CHOOSE FROM FINISHED PRINTS
• ADDITIONAL PRINTS AVAILABLE AT AFFORDABLE
PRICES
ONE DAY ONLY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 10 to 5:30 pm
"Great for Easter Day Gifts"
LYON'S FOOD MARKET 95 Main St. S., Seaforth
Seaforth's Valentine's
Queen for A Day
est WINNER
MARIE LITT
Before
After
Marie received a CHAUFFEUR RIDE courtesy of MoLAUQHLIN CHEV OLDS to her
MAKEOVER, MANICURE & PEDICURE at ALL STYLES II. She also wins a FLORAL
ARRANGEMENT from HILDEBRAND FLOWERS & GIFTS, a POWER MASSAGER
from SILLS HOME HARDWARE, $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE from ANNA'S DRESS
SHOPPE, COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH from THE BISTRO RESTAURANT, a $25.00
GIFT CERTIFICATE from STEDMAN'S DEPARTMENT STORE and a FINE LEATHER
PURSE from WUERTH SHOES.
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