2014 Mentoring Banquet

     As the school year wraps up, so does our time to mentor with the Leedey kids.  The board and I want to again thank all who participated this year, and we hope that everyone enjoyed at least some small part of their mentoring experience.  I know that the mentees certainly benefited from the experiences and alsways looked forward to time spent with their mentors each and every week. 
     Our second annual B.I.S.O.N. Mentoring Banquet went off without a hitch and was deemed a success by all.  I think those that were able to attend enjoyed the wonderful meal catered by The Cattle Exchange from Canadian, Tx.  All bellies seemed full that evening.  :)  Chassidy did a great job entertaining us with her special song that Lake Carpenter spent countless hours helping her prepare.  Our speaker, Brian Hunter, did an oustanding job and humbled all of us by showing his emotional vulnerability when he spoke about his mentor memories from his childhood.  Brian also shared with me that he was ablte to raise a signifigant amount of money for his non-profit organization, Strong to the Finish.  Brian was overwhelmed by the generosity of a few donors.  On behalf of Brian, thank-you for being moved to do that! 
     Overall, it was a super evening that we were all able to share and enjoy.  In my opinion, it just solidifies why this program is so very important, and why we need to continue to do whatever is necessary to keep it going.

     The following are some pictures from that night.  Hope you enjoy them!!  :)

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MENTORING WORKS!!!!!

Phil Bacharach Director of Communications 405-521-4894, 405-249-0746 phil.bacharach@sde.ok.gov Tricia Pemberton Assistant Director of Communications 405-521-3371, 405-431-7195-cell tricia.pemberton@sde.ok.gov

Local Mentoring Programs Benefit Students Efforts Highlighted During National Volunteer Week OKLAHOMA CITY (April 10, 2014) – This week marks National Volunteer Week, which honors the countless people across the nation who offer their time, skill and compassion to help others in need. When it comes to volunteering to help children, one of the most effective ways to  make a big impression is to mentor. “A mentorship program can have a strong and immediate impact for a school. Especially for a struggling student, a mentor can truly be a positive role model  and friend. It’s such a rewarding way to give back,” said state Superintendent  of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. Mentoring programs come in many varieties. One school that benefits from mentors is Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village in Oklahoma City. For an hour each week, Stanley Hupfeld visits the elementary school that bears  his name to hang out with a boy he mentors. Next year, Hupfeld wants to start  teaching him chess, but, for now, they play checkers and talk about geography. “I’ve often said it’s the best hour I spend all week,” said Hupfeld, former president  and CEO of INTEGRIS Health. Mentors started coming to the school more than a decade ago, back when it was still called Western Village Elementary. Today, it has more than 300 mentors. They  are community members with all kinds of backgrounds. Some are older students, and about a third work for INTEGRIS.  “Our goal is to have a mentor for every student in Stanley Hupfeld Academy,”  said Academy director Tobi Campbell.  Oklahoma has more than 100 mentoring and leadership programs, according to  the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The OFE helps establish mentoring programs  in schools statewide through its David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative. Mentors provide a stable source of support for students who might not get that at home. They can tutor kids who need academic help, or they can lend a sympathetic ear.  By simply visiting with a child for an hour a week, mentors leave a lasting and     positive impression. Bernard Jones, who works with prosthetics at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center,  is in his eighth year as a mentor at Stanley Hupfeld Academy. He admits he was  skeptical when he first heard about the program, afraid it would amount to babysitting.  It didn’t take long to change his mind. “It’s something I look forward to every week. The kids look forward to seeing me every week,” Jones said. The program at Stanley Hupfeld Academy is one branch of the Positive Directions  mentoring program, which INTEGRIS operates in communities with its hospitals.  Each mentor is matched to a single student whom he or she hopefully will stick with  until that student graduates to the next school. What to do with the weekly hour is up to mentors and mentees. Jones said the first 30 minutes of his sessions typically are devoted to study time, but he leaves at least 15 minutes to play games or talk.  “As they get to know you, they get a little looser and start to share their life stories with you,” he said. Mentoring programs in Oklahoma have been started at all levels of schools by a range of organizations, including colleges, churches, nonprofits and businesses.  In Tulsa's Kendall-Whittier Elementary School, roughly 70 students stay until 6 p.m.  every weekday to spend time with their mentors. The youth mentoring program was launched off-site by a neighborhood nonprofit in 2003. Several years ago, it became part of the University of Tulsa's True Blue Neighbors initiative and was moved into the     school building with help from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. "We've really seen tremendous growth in our ability to serve students and parents in this neighborhood," said director Danielle Hovenga. Although the program is free, participants must apply to join. Every kid gets a healthy after-school snack, takes a break for playtime and spends an hour working on academics     with a mentor. Half of that hour is spent on literacy, Hovenga said. Mentors come from across the community and many are associated with the university, she said. Some faculty and staff volunteer, and students can use it as a work-study job  or for academic credit in some classes.  Being able to operate the mentoring program from inside the building has led to better coordination with teachers, and the school staff gets to see the mentoring program in action, Hovenga said. Beverly Woodrome, director of the mentoring initiative at OFE, said there are too many kinds of successful mentoring initiatives around the state to suggest one model  is better than others. In one town, a mentoring program was begun by a local banke r who simply recognized a need. In bigger cities, large corporations sometimes hire  staff solely to run their mentoring programs.  There is one basic ingredient both Woodrome and Hupfeld cited; both the school and the mentoring organization need to be dedicated to the program and provide designated leaders on both ends. Mentors range from top-level executives to school custodians. The more careers and backgrounds represented, the better, Woodrome said. “I think sometimes we overlook people who could be inspirational,” she said.   #

Robetha Fariss Honored at Regional BB Tourney

Robetha Fariss was recently honored as the B.I.S.O.N. Mentor of the Year recipient at the Regional Basketball Tournament hosted by Leedey.  In front of a packed gym, Robetha was recognized by Beverly Woodrome, the mentor coordinator for the David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative Program, as well as our State Representative, Mike Sanders.  Robetha's mentee, Chassidy was present, as well as Tony, who was the late Ted Fariss' mentee.  Both mentees were presented a STEM kit, donated by Beverly, in honor of Ted Fariss.  The kit will hopefully be used with other mentees in the program who are interested in Science, Technology, Electronics, and Math.  We are very thankful to both Beverly and Mike for making the trip out to Leedey to share in our recognition and remembrance of two outstanding mentors.  Again, Congratulations Robetha!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robetha Fariss to be Honored This Weekend

Robetha Fariss, a volunteer with Leedey Public Schools’ B.I.S.O.N. Mentors Program, was among fifty-two outstanding Oklahoma youth mentors selected for recognition at Oklahoma Mentor Day at the Capitol, which was presented Jan. 15 by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and its David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative.

Farris, who was unable to attend the capitol ceremony due to her husband Ted’s funeral, will receive her award Feb. 22 at the Regional basketball game for class B Area I. Mentoring Initiative Director Beverly Woodrome will visit Leedey for the special presentation.

Mentoring Day honorees were selected by their respective programs within the Mentoring Initiative network. Each recipient receives a Certificate of Recognition signed by David L. Boren, founder and chairman of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The Boren Mentoring Initiative was launched in 2006 to promote the growth and development of quality youth mentoring programs statewide. Since then, more than 100 Oklahoma mentoring organizations have joined the foundation’s network.

“Oklahoma Mentor Day helps draw attention to the value of mentoring and the tremendous impact that mentors make in their mentees’ lives,” Woodrome said.  “I am delighted to visit Leedey and recognize Robetha Fariss and remember her husband, Ted, who both made an important impact on young people in their community.”

B.I.S.O.N., an acronym for “Believe In Some One Now,” serves Pre-K through 12-grade students in Leedey Public Schools. A retired Roger Mills County tag agent, Fariss was the first adult to enthusiastically step up to volunteer as a mentor, said B.I.S.O.N. Mentor Coordinator Kris Gore.

“There is not a more giving woman involved with the mentoring program than Robetha Fariss,” Gore said. “She is that way with all of the programs in Leedey – more than willing to do her part and support those involved. As a mentor, she has displayed all of those qualities too.  She became very involved in her mentee’s life and has never looked back.”

Farris has been matched two years to Chassidy, age 14. When Chassidy voiced an interest in criminal science as a career choice, Fariss made arrangements to take her on a tour of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation office.  She also has helped Chassidy earn money for summer camps and basketball shoes. 

“Robetha expresses her ideas and opinions in a way that you just naturally respect,” Gore said.  “That is probably the reason why she and Chassidy are such a good match. She tells her teenage mentee exactly what is and isn’t acceptable.  Her honesty and genuineness are qualities to admire, especially in today’s superficial world.” 

 

Mentoring has been a family affair in the Fariss household. Robetha’s late husband, Ted, who recently died of cancer, mentored an eighth-grader named Tony. He was also among the first to step up as B.I.S.O.N. mentor.

“Ted was a huge pillar of our community,” Gore said. “He will be missed dearly.”

For more information about Oklahoma Mentor Day or the Boren Mentoring Initiative, visit www.okmentors.org or contact Beverly Woodrome, program director, at (405) 236-0006.

B.I.S.O.N. Mentors Come & Go Appreciation Day

  The B.I.S.O.N. Mentors recently held a come and go luncheon to show their appreciation to all of the adults involved with the mentoring program.  The Leedey Faculty and Staff were invited to attend as well, since this program could not be a success without their support and involvement.  The day was filled with much laughter and funny stories, as everyone munched on delicious finger foods of all types and feasted on a beautifully decorated cake, displaying our motto for the year—“Mentoring Works!”  Forty mentors of the 58 total were able to show up and partake in the fun festivities for the day.  Many of Leedey’s local businesses very generously donated super door prizes.  A list of those merchants and winners can be found at the end of this article.  Drink vouchers for the mentors to use with their mentees was donated by the Bison Short Stop, and Gore’s Gotta Go donated a $5 Sonic gift card to every mentor, as well as every Leedey faculty and staff member.  A sign was posted in the office where the luncheon occurred, honoring our Mentor of the Year, Robetha Fariss and her mentee, Chassidy Ray.  A poster was also made paying tribute to Ted Fariss, a mentor that recently passed away from cancer.  Ted was a mentor to Tony Hahn.  The B.I.S.O.N. Mentors acronym stands for Believe In Some One Now.  This is the second year to have the school based program for students ranging in age from Pre-K thru 12th grades.  Mentees are teacher and parent referred, while mentors undergo a thorough background check and screening process.  Matches are discussed and made by the B.I.S.O.N. Mentoring Board of Directors, which includes: Lily Kendall, Deon Kauk, Lake Carpenter, Roy McClendon, Jeannie Craig, Tammi Goodall, and Kris Gore.   To see more pictures and more information about the B.I.S.O.N. Mentors, check out their new blog at www.bisonmentors.blogspot.com 

If you would like to know more information about the B.I.S.O.N. Mentoring program or how to start a mentoring program in your area, please contact Kris Gore at kris@leedey.k12.ok.us or
 405-317-6062.

 

Door Prize Donors and Winners

Leedey Lumber—Winners: Carrie Gebhardt & Heath Clem

The Bank of the West—Winners: Annie Switzer & Lisa Baker

Serendipity—Winners:  Priscilla Bentley & Marcia Thompson

Kayla’s Salon & Beyond—Winners: Denise Newton & Susan Haxton

Bank of Western Oklahoma—Winner: Kenny Bailey

Leedey Corner Store—Winner: Tony Morlan

Leedey Insurance—Winner: Kristin Brown

Haxton Well Testing—Winner: Robetha Fariss

Leedey Drug—Winner: Micah Whittington

Wild West Insurance—Winner: Debbie Rounds

Tribute to Ted Fariss

     The community of Leedey and the B.I.S.O.N. Mentoring program suffered a huge loss a few weeks ago.  Ted Fariss passed away January 9^th at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Tx.   Ted was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and was there seeking treatment when his Savior called him home.  Ted is survived by his wife, Robetha, who is our B.I.S.O.N. Mentor of the Year this year, as well as Valerie, his daughter and Monty, his son.  Ted and Robetha were one of the first adults to volunteer for our mentoring program last year and their support and involvement has been incredible.  Ted was a man of great character with a quiet, yet very strong spirit.  He was often a calming force in stressful situations that might cause other people to get radical and lose their wits.  Ted was matched with Tony Hahn, an 8^th grader here at Leedey.  When Ted first became sick at the beginning of this school year, he regretfully told Tony that he wouldn’t be able to mentor him until he felt better.  Our mentoring board then met and asked Tony if he wanted to be re-matched, Tony replied, “No, I’ll just wait for Ted.”  One of Tony’s best memories of Ted was the time they went to an OSU men’s basketball game in Stillwater.  Tony expressed that the day was so much fun, and he really appreciated the opportunity to get to go and spend it with Ted.  We are saddened by the loss of this gentle giant of a man, but we know that his spirit of doing the right thing will live on with his children, grandchildren, and perhaps even Tony.  Thank-you Ted Fariss for being a part of this mentoring program.



More From Mentor Appreciation Day!!!

Charles

Darin

Debbie

Lily and Denise

Roy & Klint

Marvin & Darlene

Matt

Micah

Carrie

Stacy

Susan & Lily

Tammi

Carrie, Linda, & Tammi

Tony

Pictures From Mentor Appreciation Day!!!!

Annie and Maddi

Carol and Roy

Kent, Matt, Micah, and Mark

Lake and Heath

Lily

B.I.S.O.N. Mentor of the Year

Robetha Fariss

More picts to come later!!  Thanks to all Mentors that stopped in for food and fun.  Be sure to pick up your Sonic Gift Card from Gore's Gotta Go and a drink voucher for your mentee from Bison Short Stop.

MENTOR APPRECIATION WEEK

This week is mentor appreciation week at Leedey.  We love our mentors and we want them to know how much we appreciate all they do.  Today we have a come and go luncheon in the school office for all of the mentors to attend.  There is a tremendous amount of delicious food and a beautiful cake to be eaten.  We have very generous door prizes for some lucky mentors donated by numerous merchants downtown.  (See the list at the bottom.)  Bison Short Stop donated a drink voucher that each mentor can use with their mentee to go and get a free pop during their mentoring session.  Gore's Gotta Go Portable Restrooms purchased $5.00 gift cards for each mentor and school faculty personel to show their appreciation towards everyone's hard work and efforts. 

So far it has been a great day with lots of smiling faces!!  Make a difference and be a mentor!!!

Mentoring Works!!!

Hello and welcome to the B.I.S.O.N. Mentoring Blog.  Check here for updates and current information from school and the world of mentoring