Mentoring will start once again at the high school. Mentoring provides the opportunity for young people to be in ongoing, mutually beneficial, caring relationships which strengthen their resiliency to the challenges they face. High school mentors will meet with middle school students on a biweekly basis. As facilitators, mentors will lead mentoring sessions focused on helping middle school students with life skills, academic performance, conflict resolution, violence prevention, and alcohol and other drug prevention.
We are looking for 7th and 8th grade referrals for students who could serve as role models and future mentors as well as students who could truly benefit from having a relationship with a mentor.
Sierra Community House Empowerment Groups
Sierra Community House EmpowermentGroups are intended to provide a safe space for students to discuss topics relevant to their lives; such as healthy friendships and relationships, managing emotions, respect, leadership and communication skills.
There are 4 goals the groups hope to achieve:
1. Create positive environments and communities
2. Promote healthy relationships and choices
3. Increase positive self-worth
4. Engage and empower youth to speak out and model healthy lifestyles
Positively Rolling
The program meets weekly, over the course of five weeks. A different topic is the focus of discussion each meeting. The format for each group meeting include: gathering in a circle, introducing the topic in an open format where everyone present has equal opportunity to share their experiences, discussing the topic and asking questions.
Adult volunteers and program leaders guide the topic, provide feedback and share their own insight. Symbols and visual aspects of the topic at hand are discussed before the focus shifts from a discussion based conversation to methods of rendering the topic in a visual and artistic manner. The group then breaks and students create their art. After the allotted time for painting and drawing, students clean up and gather again to give closure to the day’s topic.
Substance of Character Topics:
Community
Integrity
Dealing with Success vs. Failure
Respect
Growing to be your own man
Students are encouraged to develop their ideas and understandings of the topics by representing them visually on their “canvases”- in this case skateboards. They are encouraged to do this in whatever manner they wish.
The entire program is documented periodically to show progress and capture the spirit of the program. The final day portraits are taken of the student with their finished “canvas” (skateboard). At the end of the year, all portraits will be displayed for a final art show of the students and their work to celebrate their understanding and achievements.
Grief and Loss Group
A support group for students who are experiencing the loss someone close to them. Students experiencing grief or loss due to divorce, death, incarceration of a family member, deportation, or loss of a pet, are all welcome to participate.