Northbrook Junior High Mentoring Program Pays Dividends In Two Ways

NORTHBROOK, IL — For eighth graders at Northbrook Junior High School, middle school can be a challenging and enlightening time. But past experiences are also helping mold students coming behind them to learn in new ways as well.

A group of 30 eighth graders is mentoring sixth graders as part of a program school officials can be beneficial to both groups. The 30 students went through training and recently held their first mentoring session. As part of the program, a three-person group of mentors meet with X-block students five times a year and will participate in team-building activities and will then have discussions involving questions or concerns that come from younger students.

Northbrook Junior High Principal Scott Meek said in a news release that the mentoring program is part of a culture-building initiative that has been going on at the school for the past 10 years.

“Our exit survey with sixth each year provides positive feedback about the program,” Meek said. “They enjoy the activities and conversations with the eighth-grade mentors. We've had some students tell us that they ended up joining an after-school club or a school sport because of the encouragement they received from their mentor.”

School officials say that the program also has a positive impact on the mentors, who can then apply to participate in the program.

“I think they feel empowered in this role as they are looked up to by the sixth graders and they also have the experience of being in charge of the sessions they run,” Meek said. “In many ways, they experience a little bit of what it's like to be an educator or camp counselor as they prepare activities and facilitate discussions.

Mentor Shawn Syed knows a little bit about being in unfamiliar territory; he moved to Northbrook from Alabama before he started sixth grade during the pandemic.

“I definitely wanted to make sure the sixth graders had a good year,” he said in the release.

Sammy Abrams said she had an older sister to assist her with some growing pains, and she knows not everyone is that lucky.

“I think it’s important for someone who’s not a teacher to teach you about school,” she said.