Otis Elementary presents Rising Giants mentoring program to Fremont City Schools board

Otis Elementary staff presented the Rising Giants mentoring program to the Fremont City Schools Board, describing how high-school National Honor Society students serve as mentors for elementary students and help build skills such as teamwork, communication and goal-setting.

"If you find a need, you take actionable steps to address it," said Joshua Matz, principal at Otis Elementary, introducing the program and its high-school partners. School counselor Juliana Jordan, who leads the effort, said the program meets monthly and matches roughly 20 third- through fifth-grade mentees with older student mentors based on shared interests.

"When we do get together, we spend a lot of time communicating, a lot of time, discussing what our goals are," Jordan said, describing sessions that include structured activities such as teamwork exercises, scavenger hunts and crafts. She told the board the program addresses social-emotional needs and helps younger students form role-model relationships with local high-schoolers.

A fifth-grade mentee, Chloe, provided a written statement that Jordan read aloud: "My name is Chloe, and I am a fifth grader at Otis. My mentor's name is Sofia. One thing I like about my mentor is she is kind and trustworthy... Being part of Rising Giants made me feel happy when we talk together." The board applauded the student’s remarks and thanked the Otis team for the presentation.

Jordan acknowledged challenges, including keeping some mentees engaged long-term and arranging transportation; she said the team is developing lesson plans and materials to ease replication and hopes to expand the program to other elementary schools.

Superintendent and board members thanked the presenters and encouraged continuing the partnerships between buildings. The presentation concluded with board appreciation for staff and volunteers who support the program.