Everyone benefits with students and children partnership

A unique ‘Island Mentoring’ programme has brought success for children from Haxby Road Primary Academy and sports students from York St John University.

Ten students with an average age of 19 had their first taste of being in charge of children – under close supervision – for two hours every week for ten weeks. As one-to-one mentors for Year 5 and 6 children, they were there to listen, be kind, help and have fun. Importantly, they taught children how to make good choices and how to talk about any problems.

“The students were young people our children could look up to and the Island Mentoring programme focussed on our core values self-belief, kindness and trust,” said Karen Doyle, manager of Haxby Road’s pupil and family support team.

“It is about clear rules and expectations and learning the importance of teamwork. Everyone benefits.”

At a special assembly, children and their mentors talked about the progress that had been made. “It helps me learn better and behave better,” said one participant. “It makes me want to come to school,” said another.

The programme is part of a long-standing partnership with York St John University set to raise aspirations.

Haxby Road pupil is Lord Mayor for the day

The Lord Mayor was accompanied by a very special guest as Chenai Thomas from Haxby Road Primary Academy joined the Civic Party to enjoy a day as Lord Mayor.

Chenai took part in a full day of civic duties after winning a competition that was part of the Digital Adventurers project, organised at the school by the new Digital Arts Media Guild.

During the day Chenai was collected in the civic limousine and taken to the Guildhall for a tour of the building. Then Chenai wore miniature civic robes to accompany the Lord Mayor and take part in the last citizenship ceremony of this civic year. Following lunch and a backstage tour of the Theatre Royal with the Lord Mayor, Chenai returned to school after a very busy day.

The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Sonja Crisp said: “I would like to thank Haxby Road Primary Academy for their support and hoped Chenai enjoyed the day showing what being Lord Mayor entails. I would also like to congratulate all the pupils at Haxby Road for their work during the competition, which was of a very high standard. It was a busy day and I was grateful for Chenai’s support throughout.”

Chenai said: “Today was awesome! We got to visit the inner chambers in the Guildhall and went in the same room that King Charles I had been in and we think Shakespeare might have been in there too getting ready for one of his plays!

“After that, we went through a secret passageway up on to the roof of the Guildhall and we saw secret codes that had been carved into the stone hundreds of years ago.

“We saw behind and underneath the stage at the Theatre Royal and this afternoon I got to give out the medals to people from all over the world at the British Citizenship Ceremony which was very important.

“I really enjoyed going to the registry office and finding the record of my birth too.”