New World Club Ready to Work with Newcomers

With mentor training now complete, Huntington High School’s New World Club is fully engaged in its mission. The goal of the training was to collaborate with members in identifying, evaluating and communicating ideas of what makes for an effective mentor.

“Our main priority is to welcome newcomer students at Huntington High School, guide them in adjusting to the school and other lifestyle changes and be a support system to their academic and language development so that they can thrive in their new environment,” according to the club’s mission statement. “Moving to a new country or a new school may be a big and challenging change, so we take pride in creating a sense of community for our newcomers.”

When club members get together something worthwhile always occurs. During the recent meeting students asked questions about the different mentoring opportunities and what they “look like” in action. The session invoked collaboration among club veterans and the newcomers.

“The purpose of this training was to demonstrate how to build a respectful and trusting relationship,” one of the club’s veterans said. “We engaged in meaningful discussions about respect for differences, the comparisons between an effective and an inexperienced mentor, and what students hope to gain from this experience.”

“We held this training to sustain ethical integrity in place and create a safe environment for everyone involved when it comes to a mentor and mentee relationship,” a second club member added. “We want to improve our school community by being inclusive and making our newcomers feel welcome and supported. We can do this by respecting each other’s customs, cultures, and identities, and personal boundaries.”

Club members perform various types of mentoring, including peer-to-peer and classroom and even tutor after school. “We host club events for mentors and mentees to strengthen their bonds, engage in meaningful social interactions and activities and we strongly encourage newcomer students to join us and become involved,” said one of the members.