At Stella Schola Middle School, we know that learning to assist others and to empathize with others is an essential skill in today’s world.  The school setting is an excellent place to teach our young people the art of kindness, consideration, & cooperation. Eighth graders begin their formal mentoring program in the spring and build on skills including how to be a good role model and how to make friends.  After assisting with the sixth grade orientation in June, eighth graders write letters to their new friends over the summer and many even include their phone numbers so that in-coming students can call them over the summer if they have questions about school. Each sixth grader is assigned an eighth grade mentor for the year.  Monthly activities/lessons are guided and supervised by Mr. Gorchels (8th grade) and Miss Warren (6th grade).   Themes include: Building Team Acceptance Citizenship Problem Solving Communication Academic Responsibility Conflict Management Maturity Community Service		One of the things I am really happy about this year is all the new friends I’ve made. I truly feel like I fit in, I have a place, I am home.                                            ~Sophia   ... an excellent program and well thought out.                                   ~ Parent