• FALCON FRIENDS

    Falcon Friends is an exciting program at South Lewis that provides a positive learning experience for elementary students at Glenfield and Port Leyden. The goal of this program is to facilitate a mentor-like relationship between an elementary student and a positive role model from South Lewis High School. Through this relationship, students engage in activities that encourage self-esteem, self-confidence, goal-setting, literacy, character building, and friendship skills.

    High School students travel once a month, with High School Counselor Julie Burmingham, to visit both elementary buildings. During the monthly meetings, students get a chance to get to know each other through friendly conversation and structured activities. So far, our “bigs” and “littles”have done some really neat things together. They have read the book “Have You Filled A Bucket Today?” and engaged in discussion about what it means to be a kind and caring person. They have done a St. Patty's Day treasure hunt using the code scanner app on Ipads and Iphones. Students have taken whole meetings to read stories to each other in the library, play on the playground, and enjoy board games together. Through out the years they have worked on some art projects including homemade ornaments and Valentine's for each other and for elderly in the community. They have played many games together including some fun, interactive ice breaker games like human bingo, the human knot, and the balloon game. Twice a year they come to the High School for dinner and to enjoy the middle and high school musical productions. We do so many fun things together that it seems that both the "bigs" and "littles" gain so much for their participation in the program.