 Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Anchorage School District have collaborated
to create a school-based prevention-
oriented program that strives to help elementary children build resiliency and self-worth through caring relationships
with adults. Volunteers from businesses
and the community at large are matched with children according to the mentor’s strengths and experience, the child’s needs, parent/guardian preferences,
mutual interests and compatibility.
BBBS provides mentoring services to more than 200 students in the following schools: Denali, Eagle River Elementary, Fairview, Government Hill, Lake Otis, Mt. View, North Star, Nunaka Valley, Russian Jack, Turnagain, William Tyson and Wonder Park. They have High School “Bigs” Programs at Bartlett, Chugiak, Eagle River High School, East, Service South Anchorage, Steller and West in which high school students are also serving as big brothers and big sisters to elementary kids.
School-based mentors spend one hour each week during the school year with a child who is in need of guidance,
support, and assistance. During the visits, “matches” may share lunch, work on school projects, read together, play games, shoot hoops, hang out in the computer lab, or just talk and get to know one another. Most businesses offer employees release time to participate.
High school students meet their “Littles” after 2 pm. As a school-based mentor, you have an opportunity to observe a child see himself or herself, possibly for the first time, as a worthy individual who has the potential to succeed;
as a person who can strive to do anything he or she truly desires.
Two elementary schools, North Star and Wonder Park, nominated BBBS this year attesting to the positive impact they have made in those communities. At North Star Elementary, the partnership currently has 14 active matches, split equally between seven Big Brother/Little Brother matches, and seven Big Sister/Little Sister matches.
At Wonder Park, the program has 12 matches this year, 3 of which transitioned to community-based relationships. Both schools have a diverse population of children, and BBBS has partnered up Bigs from many diverse ethnic and career backgrounds.
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North Star has approximately 450 students
currently enrolled, of which many are bilingual, 150 are Native Alaskan, and many are from area shelters. Principal Cindy Bledsoe has expressed just how much mentoring means to her students, and would like to see this program
grow to a point where almost every one of their students has a Big.
These mentoring relationships help students to improve their social skills and self-esteem, find identity, and encourage
positive behavior. They also promote success in school, resulting in improved grades, attendance and classroom preparedness.
BBBS mentoring supports Developmental Asset growth in youth and helps them become more caring, confident, and competent adults.
“Big” Steve Klaasen and his “Little” Logan Hendrickson have been paired for six years. His mother, Joelene Lane, says Logan has learned how to be a better role model for his little brother from the mentoring he’s received. |
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