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Students, teachers get to work expanding middle school mentoring program
On May 12, 48 students and 10 teachers from Vista del Lago, Folsom High, and Cordova High joined a Schools Unity Project (SUP) workshop to lay the groundwork for expanding a mentoring program that helps middle school students navigate the difficult transitions in their lives.
The goal of the workshop was for all three high schools to create and implement SUP videos and lessons. Discussion topics focused on common challenges students face during middle school, from eating disorders to misuse of the internet.
Guest speaker and News 10 anchor Cristina Mendonsa spoke to students regarding the impact of creating personal narratives when telling their stories. “If we understand someone’s journey, we have more empathy for them,” Mendonsa said. “If you tie an emotion to that personal narrative then it will stick with people.”
The Schools Unity Project was created by Vista del Lago mass communication teacher - and current Teacher of the Year - Janice Johnson to be a student-led project fostering self-advocacy, positive decision making and the confidence to take action in claiming a healthy school environment. SUP ambassadors serve as role models to their younger counterparts, offering social and emotional support to the students who look up to them.
Students Deanna Cuadra, Lucy Brancoli, and Karli Velander, all current SUP ambassadors provided personal reflections about what it means to be serve in that role. “You appreciate students you go to school with and I have met some amazing individuals. I get to experience mentoring students,” Deana said.
Scott Meyer, the District’s child welfare coordinator, said that with the expansion of the SUP program, “it is really powerful to watch students from all over the District collaborate with each other to not only identify challenges but create and implement a plan to reduce the struggles of their younger counterparts.”
All 2014-15 SUP videos are available at www.fcusd.org/character.