1
Have No Fear, Your Mentor is Here!Planning and
Executing a Successful Freshman Orientation Day
with Student Mentors

• Presented by
• Lori Wallace, Freshman Academy Coordinator
• Mitzi Quinn, Student Mentor Advisor
• Bastrop High School
• April 25, 2008

2
Application, Selection, and Training of Student
Mentors

• Applications for student mentors are completed
  and turned in by April (hand-out of application)
• Mentor training in July
• Planning day in August to make signs and prepare
  for Kick Start Day

3
Gearing Up for Kick Start Day

• Flyers with date and time passed out at feeder
  schools in May to all incoming freshmen
• Information published in local paper one week
  before the event
• Held the week before the official start of school
  from 200-500

4
Ram Kick Start Day Procedures

• Parents drop off students before 200 outside
  the gym
• Mentors stand outside with signs and balloons to
  welcome incoming freshmen
• Students are given a handout with group numbers,
  names in each group and mentor information (see
  example) and an agenda
• Students are ushered into the gym

5
Ram Kick Start Day Activities

• Administrators, freshman academy staff, and
  mentors are introduced
• Cheerleaders, Star Steppers, and Pep Squad put on
  a welcome Pep Rally
• Students break into six areas (5 groups in each
  area) for break out sessions Mentors move to
  each group with 10 minutes in each session to
  cover the break-out topics

6
Break Out Bonanza

1. Time Management How to use planners
2. Expectations Dress code, Time Out, Detention,
   IDs, Consequences for Violating Rules
3. Attendance Tardy Policy, Check-in/Check-out,
   Consequences
4. Getting Involved at BHS Extra-curricular
   activities, Homecoming applications, Clubs,
   Sports
5. Accountability GEE, Grades, Graduation
   Requirements, Carnegie Units, Grade Point
   Averages (4.0 GPA now), NCAA Clearinghouse
6. Stress Management Counselors, Where to go with
   questions

7
After Break Out Sessions

• Mentors gather their groups
• Mentors pass out note cards with locker numbers
  and combinations to each student
• Each mentor takes their group of 10 on a
  comprehensive tour of the school
• Mentors instruct students on how to open lockers

8
Following Up with Freshman

• Mentors keep a log for the school year
• Mentors are responsible for making contact with
  their students AT LEAST once a month
• Examples Mentors send positive notes of
  encouragement, some gave their students on honor
  roll a certificate and McDonalds gift cards, etc.

9
Contact Information

• Cynthia Atlas
• Principal
• [phone]
• catlas_at_mpsb.us
• Lori Wallace
• Freshman Academy Coordinator
• [phone]
• lwallace_at_mpsb.us
• Mitzi Quinn
• Student Mentor Advisor
• [phone]
• mquinn_at_mpsb.us