For more than five years now Sloatsburg’s Charlene Vasilik has helped parents and students of Sloatsburg Elementary School as head of Ramapo Central School District’s Family Resource Center. Vasilik develops FRC educational programming specific to Sloatsburg students and families, and one of most popular activities is the 12-week Start Something mentoring program, a 5th-grade after school program designed to teach students how to realize a goal.
Recently, more than a dozen Sloatsburg students participated in Start Something, where the 5th-graders are matched with an adult mentor, learn a bit about their mentor’s career, and develop a real life project based on what they learn. Mentors vary and this year included a doctor, accountant and teacher. With help from parents, Start Something students organized food drives and fundraisers, ran a soccer clinic for younger students, co-taught a physical education or math lesson and more.
“Students learn about leadership, teamwork, goal-setting, time management and role-models,” said Vasilik. “I am always thrilled and amazed by their creativity and commitment to their service projects.”
At the end of Start Something, the students are required to complete a community service project based on their goal. In mid-February, family and participating students attended the closing Start Something session at Sloatsburg Elementary School, where students delivered presentations on their projects and explained how the program helped them work toward their dreams.
Rebecca Warren hopes to become a day care provider and selected Vasilik as her mentor. To gain a better understanding of what it would be like to run a day care program, Rebecca ran a Little Chefs session for preschoolers centered on Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
“You need lots of patience with the little ones,” she reflected. “Things don’t always go as planned.”
Rebecca’s mom, Lisa Warren, had high praise for Start Something.
“This has been tremendous for Rebecca—it’s given her an opportunity to take the reins and build on her passion,” she noted. “It’s taught her to think, plan and implement—and then learn how to be flexible and improvise when things don’t go according to plan.”
Another student learned the challenges of being a veterinarian and spearheaded a pet supplies drive to support the Hi-Tor Animal Shelter. The big take-home lesson — when you love animals, sometimes you have to do things that are unpleasant.
Colin learned the money math of becoming an accountant. “You need to go to college to become an accountant,” he said. “The average salary is $100,000 per year, but you only get Saturdays and Sundays off.” For his project, Colin attended Homework Club twice a week to help fourth-grade students with math.
Principal Eric Baird congratulated the students on a job well done.
“I am very impressed with the projects that you chose and the positive impact that they have had on people and animals in our community,” he said.
“All of the students have demonstrated true leadership skills that will serve them well in the future,” said Vasilik. “We are so proud of them.”
Source: Jennifer Citrolo, Ramapo Central School District
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