Links Mentoring Program Start New Year of Service

The LINKS Mentoring Program at Frank K. Hehnly School had its initial kickoff with student mentors in September.
The activity provided an experience to help children understand the relationship between generalizations and stereotypes. Each group of students was given a lemon and was asked to describe its characteristics. Students studied the lemon and took note of all of its special features. The lemons were placed together in a bowl, and students were asked to identify theirs. Students understood that while all lemons may look alike, they are in fact uniquely different. Taking it further, Guidance Counselor, Sarah Badillo, and Learning Consultant, Lisa Giandana, asked students to think about how people might make assumptions about those with disabilities. Students shared that someone in a wheelchair may actually want to play basketball and that an autistic student probably does want a friend, even though they may have a bit of trouble making friends.
This program, run by Sarah Badillo and Lisa Giandana, provides training to young mentors and helps foster friendships in and out of school for students identified as needing social and emotional support.