St. Luke's students act as mentors
JEFFERSON TWP — At St. Luke's Lutheran School, it's not unusual to see eighth graders playing kickball with first graders at recess. Or to see fourth graders trekking to the second grade classrooms, board games in hand.
The school pairs the students shortly after the school year begins, giving each student a chapel partner.
The program, which began almost a dozen years ago, is designed to build lasting relationships between older and younger students, said Kristie Gizienski, a fifth grade teacher at the school.
As part of the program, students fourth through eighth grade help the students in kindergarten through third grade with everything from looking up and reading scripture to getting to the right bus.
Most importantly, the older chapel partners are charged with helping the younger students at the school's weekly chapel services.
Classes will join with their partner classes before chapel on Friday mornings to help them find the hymns and teach them the overall routine, said Karen Bartos, director of admissions and development.
Gizienski's fifth grade students are paired this year with first grade students.
"I try to instill in them that you are the role model and (the younger students) are watching everything you do and everything you say," she said.
"I think it's a very rewarding experience at both levels," she added. "It can be a role model situation in both directions."
Seventh grade student Ann McKinnis of Butler has been a part of the program since kindergarten.
"When you're younger you look forward to being older and want to be just like them," she said.
Now, Ann is a bus buddy for 5-year-old Nathan McCormick, also of Butler."At the end of the day we go to the kindergarten room and pick them up and walk them to their bus," she said."It helps them to get where their bus is so they don't get lost."Abbie Thrower, a sixth grade student, said that while she has fun playing kickball and board games with her chapel partner, she also has learned a valuable lesson."Having a younger chapel partner helped me learn responsibility," said Abbie, 11, of Saxonburg.Becoming an older chapel partner in fourth grade is an eagerly anticipated milestone."It's my first time being an older chapel partner," said 9-year-old Logan DeJonge of Saxonburg. "I like to help my chapel partner with everything. I enjoy being an older chapel partner."Nathan, a kindergartner, summed up the chapel partner program in one sentence: "I think it's cool."But it's not all about academics. Mission work also plays a role.Throughout the year, the chapel partners collaborate on several mission projects, funded with offerings collected at Friday's services.The day before Thanksgiving found the students busily tying fringe to complete dozens of fleece blankets for local Lifeline programs helping the needy and the Slippery Rock pregnancy center.Brenda Fett, a fourth grade teacher at the school, organizes many of the mission projects, including the blankets.Fett said the offerings given at Friday chapel services in October and November went toward material for the blankets."(The students) were very thrilled about that, to see where they were going and what they would be used for," she said.In all, the students completed 75 soft fleece blankets.In previous years the students filled boxes with school supplies for children in India and collected toiletry items to complete baskets for those in need.Fett's chapel partners have collaborated on Christmas ornaments, cards for shut-ins and science experiments.In addition, the students make wreaths for residents at the near by Concordia senior home and make cards and gifts for other groups.Fett said the Chapel Partner program helps students learn leadership and strengthens their faith."(It) helps them to develop their relationship through Christ," she said.St. Luke's Lutheran School enrolls 138 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The facility also houses preschool and pre-kindergarten programs.
