Up to 20 pupils and 25 teachers at Mornington Park Primary School will soon be sitting alongside each other in class being taught the same course.
The school is the only primary in Victoria chosen for the Power of Two mentoring program that principal Beverly Dadds says is all about “connecting and building relationships; it’s not just academic skills, this is not tutoring”.
Ms Dadds said two children would be chosen for the mentoring program from each of the school’s 10 classes.
These children and teachers would then each be able to mentor other pupils, making the Power of Two program sustainable.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier Judith Couacaud Graley and the MP for Eastern Victoria Daniel Mulino were at Mornington Park primary last week to announce that the government would give $68,650 for student mentoring program.
The school is one of eight community organisations chosen to receive programs “targeting disadvantaged youth”.
“The grants will help more students excel in reading, maths, sciences and the arts, develop strong critical and creative thinking, build resilience, and stay in education longer,” a news release issued by the MPs stated.
“We know that students who receive the support, advice and care that a mentor can provide are more likely to stay in school, stay engaged and do well,” Ms Couacaud Graley said.
“Through programs just like the fantastic Power of Two we can ensure our young people are not only engaged at school but ready to excel, have built much needed resilience and have the same opportunities as anyone else to succeed in learning and in life.”
First published in the Mornington News – 1 March 2016
