January is Mentoring Month, and West Hartford Public Schools will hold a virtual training workshop for prospective new mentors on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

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Who mentored you? Pass it on. Then, honor those who encouraged you. Become a mentor and continue the legacy.

To be a mentor, you don’t need special skills, just a willingness to listen and to offer friendship, guidance and encouragement to a young person. And you’ll be amazed by how much you’ll get out of the experience. When you serve as a mentor, you enrich your own life as much as you do the life of a young person.

Today, West Hartford Public Schools have more mentees than mentors. Students are on a waiting list. With the town’s ever-changing community, the demand for new mentors, an even greater need for male role models, and the need for more businesses to become partners in education is increasing.

To help close the gap, the West Hartford Public Schools will hold a new “virtual” mentor training workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Any business or community member who has an interest in being a positive role model in the life of a young person is encouraged to attend.

The evening will prepare individuals to effectively mentor students grades K-12 in the West Hartford Public Schools. Once trained, adults meet with their mentees at the child’s school once a week for up to one hour, depending on the student’s schedule. Sessions can include talking, reading, playing games, making craft projects, researching careers, and most importantly, serving as a role model through sharing and listening.

The mission of the West Hartford Public Schools Mentor Program is to allow students the opportunity to reach their potential by offering guidance, encouragement, and support through partnerships with caring adults. For more information about mentoring or to sign up for the Jan. 19 “virtual” training workshop, please call Carol Wilkas, Mentor Program Coordinator at 860-251-9331 or email [email protected].

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