30 Reasons to Celebrate Schools

Written by Kids Hope USA

A transformative one-on-one mentoring program through Kids Hope USA involves a partnership between a church and a local elementary school. The school in this partnership opens their doors to welcome screened and trained mentors to meet with students at the school for one hour, once a week, during the school day.  

Schools are a key component of a successful mentoring program, and there are many reasons to celebrate the decision-makers and leaders at Kids Hope USA partner schools! Here, we share 30 reasons why our Kids Hope USA schools are amazing in making one-on-one relationships possible:  

  1. School leadership believes in the power that one-on-one mentoring can have for their students. 
  1. Principals, superintendents, and other administration provide direction and leadership for the school.  
  1. Schools go above and beyond the normal school day in offering other events and opportunities to serve their communities.  
  1. School leadership steps up to navigate difficult situations to continue to best meet the needs of their students.  
  1. Schools are willing to partner with a local church to welcome screened and trained volunteer mentors into the building to meet with their students.  
  1. Schools often extend their relationship with their church partner in allowing the church to offer other areas of support, such as a food backpack program or other resources for their community.  
  1. Schools provide a safe, visible space for mentors and students to meet each week.  
  1. School leadership introduces and communicates about the Kids Hope USA program to teachers and staff.  
  1. Schools recognize and celebrate their teachers and staff.  
  1. School leadership and decision-makers communicate with a pastor and director from their Kids Hope USA partner church.  
  1. School leadership cares for their community and may even take steps to reach out to a potential church partner to get a Kids Hope USA program established.  
  1. School leadership and/or staff works with their Kids Hope USA director to match students and mentors together for their mentoring relationships. 
  1. Schools receive approval from district leadership.  
  1. Schools support the communities, families, and communities we serve
  1. Schools empower the next generation.  
  1. Schools help their students know their value and worth.  
  1. Schools invest in the whole child, understanding that social and emotional needs must be met before academic progress can be achieved.  
  1. Schools expect great things from their scholars, which inspires children to aim high. 
  1. Schools provide safety, security, and reliable scheduling, which is important for child development. 
  1. Schools respect families and support their diverse needs. 
  1. Schools encourage and challenge students to grow.  
  1. Schools want the very best for their students. 
  1. Schools lead and guide children to be kind and knowledgeable. 
  1. Schools help children dream and achieve great things. 
  1. Schools provide an environment for friendships to flourish.  
  1. Schools facilitate creativity and inspire children. 
  1. Schools create a space for children to express themselves.  
  1. Schools set the foundation for lifelong learning
  1. Schools empower students to discover their passions and gifts through opportunities like music, art, drama, and much more.   
  1. Schools provide a safe, consistent environment for mentors and students to meet once a week to form life-changing relationships!  

There are so many reasons to celebrate schools!  

We are deeply grateful to Kids Hope USA partner schools for serving children and creating a safe place for life-changing one-on-one mentoring relationships in our communities!