High school students are helping their younger peers succeed at PPS while learning the English language.
A group of five high school students who came to PPS with little or no English are preparing to graduate equipped to succeed, thanks to the efforts of English Learner teachers and staff at PPS.
Now, it’s their turn to help the next generation of students thrive.
The paid mentorship program, which was made possible by a federal grant, pairs the high school students with their elementary school peers who face the same language barriers and challenges in school. EL students are defined as those who are not yet proficient in academic English and speak one or more languages other than English at home.
PPS currently serves about 320 English learners, English Learner Coordinator Teresa Forton said.
“To me, what’s amazing about this mentoring program is that younger EL students are learning from older students who look like them, who sound like them,” Forton said. “And, they get to see someone who is succeeding in school.”
There are five languages spoken among the group of high school mentors: Spanish, Vietnamese, Marathi, Hindi, and Popti.
The group will meet together once a week to plan mentoring activities and then visit Amberly, Haverhill and Woodland elementary schools weekly. These elementary schools were chosen for the program due to the higher population of EL students, Forton said.
“This is a great opportunity to build relationships between students and gives my older EL students a chance to be leaders,” Forton said.