The COMPASS Project is an in school mentoring program administered by Communities In Schools of Moore County and based at Southern Middle School in Aberdeen, North Carolina. The initial program was funded through a federal grant from the Department of Public Instruction. The project is currently in it’s fourth year and funded through the generosity of local businesses and donors from the Moore County community.
The Project is designed to provide middle school students direction in their lives through use of the Franklin Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens materials and the guidance of a caring adult. Mentors ask students to articulate their dreams and aspirations. The mentors then incorporate the student’s aspirations with the 7 Habits, thus providing a personal compass to guide each youth along his/her desired path. A primary focus of the Project is to produce academically successful students who become responsible for their futures. In addition to weekly mentoring visits, students also benefit from educational field trips and community service opportunities.
The Project pairs about 110 children at Southern Middle School with community volunteers to meet for one hour a week. Outcomes show that in the first seven months 100% of matches were maintained, 81% of students reduced their unexcused absences, 62% reduced their behavioral incidents and 48% improved their core academic grades. This program has had a great impact on the individual students and the school as a whole.
Students who are involved in COMPASS explore careers, get academic assistance, complete community service projects, take educational field trips, attend summer camp, participate in community events and meet with a mentor for 1 hour each week.
As a mentor, you would complete a training focused on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. During this workshop, participants engage in conversations and exercises that illustrate how to use the seven habits in real life situations. Each student also completes the Teen version of the workshop.
Once you have completed the training, we will match you with a student in grades 6-8 to begin weekly mentoring sessions. Mentoring hours are flexible and we will work around your personal schedule. Mentoring takes place only during school hours and a COMPASS Staff member will be at Southern Middle to greet you and help you sign in each day.
CIS believes that every student needs and deserves a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, and we hope to match each student who would like a mentor for the 2011-2012 school year.
Students at Aberdeen Elementary School also receive services as part of The COMPASS Project through small group meetings centered around The Leader In Me curriculum. CIS currently offers this program to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.
To learn more about the COMPASS Project or to become a mentor, contact Alicia Gatling, COMPASS Project Director at alicia@cismoore.org.
