Westfield Vocational-Technical High School student Tristan Callaghan, center, accepts a Certificate of Participation in the Mentorship Program during a luncheon at the School Friday. Joining Callaghan are Anne Bray, left, mentor coordinator, and Jennifer Alexander, Title 1 supervisor for the Westfield School District. A total of 78 students participated in the program. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Seventy-eight students at Westfield Vocational Technical High School (WVTHS) received certificates last week for participating in the Student Mentorship Program.
The program is now in its third year of providing support to at-risk students. Created by Principal Stefan Czaporowski, the Mentorship partners adults with students who need one-on-one support in the areas of academics, social situations and behavioral concerns.
“I started it back during the 2010-2011 school year when I was the assistant principal to assist students in a variety of areas, including with academic endeavors, encouragement to stay in school and graduate, avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol, improving interpersonal relationships such as with teachers and family, and receiving assistance in choosing a career path,” said Czaporowski.
Student mentoring at Westfield Vocational Technical High School is defined as a one-to-one relationship between a youth and an adult that occurs over a prolonged period of time. The mentor provides consistent support, guidance, and concrete help to a student who is in need of a positive role model.
“Students involved in the mentoring program may be going through a difficult and/or challenging situation, a period of life in which they need extra support, or they may simply need to have another significant adult present in their life,” Czaporowski said. “The goal of student mentoring is to help students gain the skills and confidence to be responsible for their own futures.”
Program Coordinator and mentor Anne Bray said the program is grant funded and she works closely with Westfield’s Title I Supervisor Jennifer Alexander.
“The mentors are paid,” Bray said. “We meet with students one over two periods a week.”
Bray said students are selected for the program based on their needs. One of the main goals of the program is student retention. Mentors help motivate students not only to do well in school, but in many cases to show up at school.
Bray said mentors work with guidance counselors and substance abuse counselors, as well as Alexander, and the program is growing.
“Last year we had 46 students,” said Bray. “We were able to help more students this year because the mentors all volunteer two hours a week without pay to accommodate additional students in need.”
Mentors typically work eight to 10 hours each week to provide services on campus. Because it is grant-funded, the Mentorship Program lasts approximately six months. The most recent program started in December and ended May 3.
When students started the program, they were treated to a welcome gift from MoFroYo and last week they were given a certificate, cake and gifts from school.
Bray said being a mentor is very rewarding.
“It’s a satisfying, wonderful relationship,” she said. “I love my job.”
Bray said there is a lot of uncertainty with a grant-funded program and she would “be very sad” if it did not continue. She credited Czaporowski for the idea that has helped so many students stay in school and succeed.
“As a result of the program, we have seen improved student performance, improving student attendance, and an increase in student retention,” said Czaporowski.
“He had the vision for this,” Bray said.
