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LETTER: Mentoring with SMILES Helps Dropout Prevention - A Mentor's Perspective I have come across a one-hour-a-week volunteer position that is very beneficial for the SouthCoast cities of New Bedford and Fall River. Groups from the social services have addressed the very high dropout rate in this region. SMILES is a school-based one-to-one mentor involvement program, and now after progressing six years, it has a targeted goal of engaging 3,000 caring adults. Volunteering consists of meeting up with a student, a mentee. Mine happens to be a first-grader. We discover from cover to cover how beneficial a book actually is — reading with animation, asking questions, making suggestions for 15 minutes, and then they are learning to read to you. After, there is time to play educational word games, which are most enjoyable. I do know in this area close to 700 students drop out of school each year, which dramatically affects this region and the state of Massachusetts in which we live. The gift is surely in the giving with this volunteer position. You and I will make a great difference just one hour a week by contacting SMILES, which does have a school right in your neighborhood. Tracy Tarvers New Bedford ..... As seen in the SouthCoast Today on 10/30/09 12:00 AM 227 Union Street, Suite 206, New Bedford, MA 02740-5946 PH 508.979.1504 • FAX 508.979.5680 E-mail: Webmaster@gnbwib.org |