LHS Students Help Grow Cedar Saplings

BY ABBY SWANSON — Staff Writer
VIDEO BY INDY HAWRYLUK — WLHS Staffer

LHS students take on peer mentoring at Harding elementary school!

Since early October, a group of LHS student volunteers has been going to Harding Elementary school twice a week to assist in mentoring younger students. This program was started by the works of Mrs. Brittany Moyer, a Harding Elementary counselor, and Mr. Clint Hibshman, an LHS teacher.

Peer mentoring provides benefits to both high school and elementary school students. Working with younger students is a big step in preparing high school students to work in education or other fields involving children. This mentoring program is a simple way of getting students within the Lebanon School District unified.

Mrs. Moyer described how she was thinking of ways to help students at Harding elementary after covid chaos took place. The mentoring program helps both elementary and high school students grow, without needing the school or county to put forth any funding. Mrs. Moyer explained, “Unfortunately, due to funding, Lebanon Country doesn’t have Big Brothers, Big Sisters anymore. So I thought, how can we make that within the Lebanon School District and help our high schoolers, who want to be in education or social work find their passion or right spot in education or social work field.”

So far the program has been a huge success, with positive feedback from both teachers and students. Harding elementary school teacher, Mrs. Rachel Forgotch, claims that the high school students' mentoring has been wonderful!

The program has benefited both the elementary and high school students in different ways.

A Harding elementary student said of the experience, “It’s fun and you get used to the person when you first meet them, they help you read, and you get better at reading and level up faster.”

Lebanon High School student Selinette Sanchez explained, “I want to deal with kids when I get out into my career, so this [program] is helping me because now I want to work with kids even more!”

The program is off to a great start but still has room to grow. If you are a junior or senior and are interested in a field of study involving kids, reach out to Mr. Hibshman for any future opportunities!