Like many eighth-graders, Polina Borodulina is nervous about the transition to high school next year. Making things a little more difficult, this is her first year in the district, having come from Ukraine.
But through a new mentorship program at Baldwin, senior students in the English as a Second Language program are working to prepare eighth graders in the program for life in high school. Borodulina said the program is already helping.
“I was afraid of how to get more credit points and how to get a good grade,” Borodulina said. “I think it’s helping us know more about school and about different activities. It’s really helpful.”
The mentorship program kicked off with a series of presentations called BHS Voices of Experience. The seniors shared their own experiences, creating presentations on topics that would help the eighth graders as they enter a new era of their lives.
Dr. Holly Niemi and Katherine Musselman, who are both ESL teachers, came up with the idea for the program after Musselman moved from teaching high school classes to eighth grade.
“Ms. Musselman and I began brainstorming the program this year after she started teaching eighth-grade ESL,” Niemi said. “We wanted to create something proactive that addressed the challenges many (English Language Learners) face when entering high school.”
Niemi is happy with the program because of the connections it fosters among the students. It also builds confidence in both the incoming freshmen and the soon-to-be graduating seniors, she said.
“Watching the seniors share their experiences, advice, and encouragement with the eighth graders is inspiring,” Niemi said. “These interactions not only help the upcoming students feel less anxious about the transition to high school, but, also empower the seniors to reflect on their own journeys and act as role models.”
The seniors chose a variety of presentations for this first part of the mentorship program, ranging from graduation requirements to going to Steel Center. Niemi said the presentations are important for helping the eighth graders understand their possible future pathways.
Brijol Khadka, a senior in the program, said that learning how to do homework is important, which is why he chose that topic for his presentation.
“Mine was about effective strategies to do their homework. I feel some students don’t do their homework properly or struggle and don’t know how to get started,” Khadka said.
One of the presentations focused on what courses the eighth graders could take.
“They told us what classes were more difficult than others, and what classes we could take in high school,” Nepal said.
The seniors selected the topics from a list generated by the eighth graders and themselves.
“This way, the program is shaped around their interests and needs, ensuring it remains engaging and relevant,” Niemi said.
In the spring, all the students will participate in a field trip to the Byham Theater to see a performance by Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, a Mexican folk dance ensemble. Niemi is planning one-on-one mentoring sessions that day to foster closer bonds among the students.
“We have plans to encourage more one-on-one conversations during breakfast before the Byham Theater trip and during the lunch afterward. These moments will give students a chance to interact in smaller, more personal settings,” she said.
