GRIFFITH High School student Jenna Bowen knows the importance of education.
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That’s why she agreed to take part in the NSW Goverrnment Get Set for your Future Youth Frontiers Mentoring Program.
It’s the chance for the Year 9 student to further develop her leadership skills and encourage young people to make the most of their school years.
“I was selected as one of the most likely to stand up and do this sort of thing in my year,” Jenna said.
On Friday she hosted a session for two Year 7 classes.
Students participated in a number of fun activities as part of an old fashioned sports day.
Jenna said she thought sport was a good way to keep students engaged at school.
“I wanted to keep them interested in school and keep them going,” she said.
Jenna said it was very important for all students to be engaged at school.
Students had a great time taking part in sack races, a three-legged race and an old-fashioned wheelbarrow race.
Jenna’s program has an emphasis on engagement and inclusiveness to assist Year 7 students to overcome some of the hurdles of remaining interested in school.
Specific outcomes relating to improved school attendance and learning styles will be measured and shared at the Youth Frontiers Presentation event on December 2. About 1200 students across NSW are selected to take part in the program.
NSW Premier Mike Baird said the aim was to ensure students were engaged at school.
“We want students to be actively engaged in their school communities and this program will help them develop their skills and build their confidence,” Mr Baird said.
“This is a one-on-one program that will focus on the needs of individual students with each student to be paired with a mentor during the school year.
“Not all teenagers find it easy to engage in the traditional learning environment.
“This program is designed to help those students work out what they’re good at so they can ambitiously work toward succeeding in tertiary education or employment.”
Young people participating in Youth Frontiers will receive a minimum of 30 hours mentoring, including at least 10 hours of one-on-one mentoring.
The program will give mentees an opportunity to build life skills and self-confidence by working collaboratively with their mentors and stakeholders to undertake a community project that makes a positive difference in their local community.
