MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 19, 2000

LAPLACE – The Glade School honored those who gave their time to help students at the Glade School HOSTS Mentor Recognition Banquet last week at the LaPlace Holiday Inn.

Glade School principal Robert Schaff welcomed the group of mentors and thanked them for taking their time every Thursday morning to help students with math. The mentors came in for an hour on Thursdays, not only helpingthe students with their lessons but also giving them encouragement. Schaffencouraged them to have their co-workers and associates to also volunteer their time.

After dinner and the announcement of door prizes, a number of the mentors stood up to give their testimony to the success of the program. Lois Duhe,HOSTS (Helping One Student to Succeed) coordinator at the Glade School, first thanked all her mentors for their time.

“I thank God for all my mentors,” Duhe said. “They were there for me. Theywere there every Thursday. They came on Thursdays, sat next to thestudents and talked to them. That was a big thing.”St. John Parish Superintendent of Schools Chris Donaldson also thanked thementors.

“I thank the mentors for coming out and working with the kids,” Donaldson said. “You are coming out to improve things, and the kids appreciate that.This was an exciting program. Next year it will grow on this year’s successas you go out and share your experience.”Malik Baloney, a mentor, agreed the HOSTS program was a good one and one that needs to continue to grow.

“We still have kids out there,” Baloney said. “We still need more people tovolunteer. This is just the beginning. Don’t lose hope of what we want toattain. This is not the end, it’s just the beginning.”Wilbert Ocmond, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, related his experience as a mentor, saying the students were always excited to see their mentors and they even taught him a few new tricks.

“My only regret was that the hour went by so fast,” Ocmond said. “It’s areally rewarding program for the mentors. Tell others to become mentorsbecause it is really important for the kids.”Mentor Suzanne Mastainich received an award in recognition of her having perfect attendance throughout the year. Schaff also thanked the sponsorsof the program.

The ceremony ended with the reading of a poem by one of the students in the program, Ronald Crouch, titled “Every Thursday.””Every Thursday you came on by to help me out with math. And even thoughyou didn’t know all the answers you still lived up to your task. EveryThursday you came on by to sit at my desk. And even if you were feeling reallow, you still live up to your test. Every Thursday you came on by to teachme something new. And even when you had to work you always managed too.Although you didn’t have lots of time, you still did your best. To come aroundall the time to help me prepare for the test.”

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