• Oct. 15, 2019

    USCHS mentors host Freshman Field Day

    Super Mentors The Upper St. Clair High School mentor program hosted its 11th annual Freshman Field Day event for ninth graders and their junior mentors on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at the high school stadium. The event was led by a team of four seniors, who serve as super mentors – Karlie Daschbach, Gavin Genter, Paige Roeschenthaler and Ellie Tetrick.

    In addition to providing a fun event, the purpose of Freshman Field Day is to build and strengthen relationships among the ninth graders.

    The morning kicked off with a mentor-mentee breakfast in the nutrition center followed by a variety of team building events including tug-of-war, a dizzy bat relay race, railroad relay, ball hop races, blind-folded dodge ball and others. Mentors, assigned to freshman homerooms, served as coaches, cheerleaders and supporters to their mentees during each activity.

    Students in grade 11 are eligible to apply to serve as mentors in order to assist freshmen with the transition from middle school to high school. Each freshman homeroom is assigned three to four mentors who provide information, encouragement and support throughout the year. Each year approximately 60 juniors serve as mentors in the program.

    Most students can empathize with being nervous and anxious about the transition to high school. The mentor program helps to ease those feelings.

    The four super mentors work collaboratively with their faculty advisors: Maureen Chermak, learning support teacher; Mike Funfar, mathematics teacher; Amanda Haas, mathematics teacher; and Tom Marquis, school counselor.