Prelude - A game of discovery and learning.

Jensen Beach High School: Peer Mentoring

February 19, 2010

JBHS is part of the Martin County School District in Florida. It serves over 1500 students and is one of the top-50 high schools in the state. Prelude was introduced as part of a volunteer Peer Mentor Training Program for the second year. This one-day session involved about 22 Grade 11 students. The overall goals for the day included introspection, self-awareness, and awareness of each other’s positive strengths. Andrea Levy facilitated this session. Andrea is a Guidance Counselor, Peer Mentoring Advisor, and Scholarship Coordinator. She’s also responsible for introducing Prelude to her school and state.

Peer Mentoring pairs older more experienced students working with new students. The older youth help younger ones in the transition from primary to secondary school. This includes homework, study skills, peer pressure [especially in relation to drug use and sexual activity], and family issues. Youth mentoring is now seen as critical element in social, emotional and cognitive development. According to the National Mentoring Partnership, 3 million American youth are now involved in mentoring programs. In Canada, innovative programs include the Alberta Mentoring Partnership.

Prelude’s use in Peer Mentoring is on the rise. For example, earlier this month Windsor Park Collegiate in Winnipeg conducted a Prelude session with 120 Grade 9 students in one day and one space! Part of the event included Grade 12 students who’d previously played helping the younger students go through the game process. Similarly planning is underway to introduce Prelude into college level student peer mentoring programs in Toronto. Please stay tuned for more on these developments.