Catoosa County Schools Partnership 2000 recently welcomed 250 mentors and mentees to a picnic in their honor at Gilbert-Stephenson Park Thursday, May 3 for field games and lunch.
Catoosa County Schools Partnership 2000 Mentor-Mentee Program volunteers from left are Sharon "Mimi" Mink, of Graysville, Graysville Elementary School third-grader Gabby Elmendorf and GES head of the mentor program Jenni Kellerhals."Mentors contribute one day a week to come and spend with a child," said Catoosa County Schools Partnership 2000 Coordinator Buffy Hemphill. "The mentors give the students the opportunity to have people spend one-on-one time with them. Most students come from single parent homes or homes where both parents work, so it's good to have a mentor to talk to."
Rossville's Arleen Wyatt, a member of First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, has served as a mentor for awhile. She retired from the Catoosa County School System, but continues to help the system through mentoring Ringgold Middle School seventh-grader LaShay Wimpy. Wyatt said it has been a good experience. She said she plays games and talks with LaShay about school.
"We know that having one adult care for a child can make all the difference in school success," said Wyatt. "The Partnership of Catoosa County is based on monetary donations. One of the best things is the Mentor Program."
LaShay said Wyatt always asks her how she's doing in school and what she wants to be when she grows up. Wyatt said she plans to attend LaShay's high school graduation ceremony. LaShay said she enjoys math and has the highest score in her class in math.
Graysville Elementary School head of the mentor program Jenni Kellerhals said third-grader Gabby Elmendorf's confidence has "shot up" since she began working with her mentor. Sharon "Mimi" Mink meets with her once a week to talk about life.
"I started mentoring her the first of the school year," said Mink. "At first I wished I had started mentoring earlier, but God had a plan. He knew I needed Gabby. You don't want to work a puzzle with her because she'll make you look bad. We are both talkers. I tell her things her assistant principal [my child] did growing up."
Gabby's favorite subject is math, especially multiplication. She said she also enjoys running track.
"She has done unbelievable in track," said Mink. "I've been to her track meets. She has a brother and sister younger than her and she is great about looking after them. She is always thinking about them. She promised her dad she would look after them."