After School Mentoring

The mission of the After School Mentoring Program is to promote a positive mentoring relationship between students in grades 3 - 5 in St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) and members of the community and to provide supported, safe, and inspiring environments in which these matches can cultivate the potential of each youth. The program, which has operated for over a decade in several elementary schools throughout St. Mary's County continues to match students with community mentors every year.

Mentors and mentees meet at the student's school one day a week for an hour and a half throughout the academic year.  With the support of a school Site Leader, mentors and students participate in fun and meaningful activities to help build social, emotional, and academic skills.

All after school mentors are provided with comprehensive training sessions and support throughout the program, and a qualified school Site Leader is present at each mentoring site to provide direction and guidance. Prospective mentors should be willing to commit to at least one year with the program.

MENTORING SESSIONS

What does an Elementary After School Mentoring Session look like?

• Students arrive after school dismissal and have a snack
• Mentors arrive
• Site Leaders welcomes group and explains the plan for the day
• Mentor/student activity time
• Students say goodbye and board bus to go home
• Mentors and Site Leaders have a brief check-in meeting

ACTIVITIES

Planned Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Fun and educational get-to-know-you activities such as games, puzzles, discussion topics, craft projects, etc.
• Working on the student's homework and drawing connections between academic and real world success 
• Completing lessons that focus on building resilience, understanding one's potential, and dealing with stress
• Helping students develop a set of short and long-term goals to achieve during the course of the year-academic, social, and personal
• Designing and performing service-learning projects that will build a sense of attachment to and responsibility toward the school or a greater community, such as starting a recycling program, planting flowers, or collecting products for a local food bank

If you are interested in becoming a After-School Mentor with SMCPS, please contact Terri Cox, Supervisor of Student Services and Special Programs at tjcox@smcps.org or call    (301) 475-5511 ex. 32257.