Save the Date – Student Mentor Program Celebrating 20th Year of Service

September 25, 2013 (Independence, IA) –You are invited!  Join us in celebrating the 20^th year of the Independence Community School District’s Student Mentor Program.  The celebration will be held on November 1, 2013 from 5-7 pm at the Junior/Senior High School.  This event is open to the public and we encourage anyone who has ever been a mentor, had a mentor or is interested in becoming a student mentor to stop by.

Mentoring.org states, “Mentors should understand they are not meant to replace a parent, guardian or teacher. A mentor is not a disciplinarian or decision-maker for a child. Instead, a mentor echoes the positive values and cultural heritage parents and guardians are teaching. A mentor is part of a team of caring adults.

A mentor’s main purpose is to help a young person define individual goals and find ways to achieve them. Since the expectations of each child vary, the mentor’s job is to encourage the development of a flexible relationship that responds to the mentor’s and the young person’s needs.

By sharing fun activities and exposing a child to new experiences, a mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, supports academic achievement and introduces the young person to new ideas”  It’s with this kind of spirit that the ICSD Student Mentor Program is able to celebrate this milestone.

For more information about the Student Mentoring program, contact Val Maximovich at vmaximovich@independence.k12.ia.us or by calling (319) 334-7400 ext. 626

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