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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt; text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:14pt"><font face="Calibri" color="#000000">VIPS Announces Meeting for Volunteers Interested in School-based Mentoring</font></span></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) will be hosting an informational meeting for volunteers interested in learning more about its
school-based mentoring programs. The session will be held Wednesday, September 19<sup>th</sup></font><font color="#000000"> at 1 p.m. in the Hermann Meeting Room at Falmouth Public Library.</font>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">Since 1994, Falmouth VIPS has overseen a one-to-one mentoring program that takes place during the school day. The program, called Project
RISE (Raising Interest and Self-Esteem), matches trained volunteers with a student who will benefit from a consistent and positive mentoring relationship. Mentors meet with their mentee once a week for about an hour during the school day. At the information
session on September 19<sup>th</sup></font><font color="#000000">, interested volunteers will hear from program leader Shona Vitelli about students who are waiting to be matched with a mentor. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to meet current mentors
who can share their experiences and answer questions. </font></font></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">Volunteer mentors are needed at all schools. At the elementary</font><b>
</b><font color="#000000">and middle school levels, students are selected to participate in Project RISE by teachers, school adjustment counselors, or parents who believe that these students would benefit from having a caring adult as a friend. Each year, students
in need of a mentor are left unmatched because we do not have enough mentors. By spending an hour each week with a child in a one-on-one, trusting relationship, a mentor can change the direction that child takes in his or her life.
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri" color="#000000">Mentors are also needed at the high school for students who may be having difficulty adjusting to the high school environment where they are faced
with many difficult challenges and decisions. </font></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri" color="#000000">The strength of the mentor—mentee relationship gives the student the tools he or she may need to become more self-assured and able to withstand
adverse peer pressure. Students involved in school-based mentoring </font></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">programs found they:</font><span>
</span><font color="#000000">enjoyed spending time with their mentors; could count on their mentors; learned new
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">things; participated in a variety of experiences; and wanted to continue in the program. Mentors noted that they:</font><span>
</span><font color="#000000">enjoyed being with their mentees; had learned from their mentees; and believed that mentees had obtained new information regarding careers, higher education, and problem-solving techniques.</font></font></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><i><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000">Mentoring is rewarding!</font></span></i><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font color="#000000"> Please join us on September
19<sup>th</sup></font><font color="#000000"> or contact VIPS at (508) 548-1621 or send an email to
<a href="mailto:mentor@falmouth.k12.ma.us" id="LPlnk296893" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">
mentor@falmouth.k12.ma.us</a>. New mentors are provided training prior to starting and throughout the school year</font><i><font color="#000000">.</font></i></span></font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt; text-align:center" align="center"><span style="line-height:115%; font-size:12pt"><font face="Calibri" color="#000000">###</font></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt; text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="line-height:115%; font-family:"Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size:10pt"><font color="#000000">Falmouth VIPS, 874 Gifford St., Falmouth, MA 02540</font><span>
</span><font color="#000000">(508) 548-1621</font><font color="#000000"><span> </span>
</font><a href="http://www.falmouthvips.org/" id="LPlnk119963" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true"><font color="#0000ff">www.falmouthvips.org</font></a><span><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000"><a href="mailto:vips@falmouth.k12.ma.us" id="LPlnk623016" class="OWAAutoLink" previewremoved="true">vips@falmouth.k12.ma.us</a></font></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">The contents of this e-mail, and any attachments, are the property of the Falmouth Public School District, and are subject to the Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, Sec. 10.</span></div>
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