High school students mentor younger students

Sisters High School health students are teaching health lessons at Sisters Elementary School in all 13 classes (K-4).

Each Tuesday for one month, 45 students make a connection through mentorship in a variety of health activities. The 13 teams of student-teachers teach two lessons. The last two weeks will be taught by a different group of 45 student-teachers, with two more health lessons.

The health topics include: keeping self, family and others healthy (belonging, diversity, feelings and friendships), stress and conflict. In the spring, more classes will be taught emphasizing healthy eating and saying "no" to tobacco and alcohol.

High school students use the HealthSmart curriculum adopted by the Sisters School District. They are trained with the curriculum and have time to enhance the lessons with activities, children's books and games that connect with the valuable lesson.

Additionally, every ninth grader in health will team-teach a health lesson to the pre-schoolers at SPRD.

The benefits of student-teaching accrue to both the teacher and the student. High school students have an opportunity to exercise speaking, organization, creativity, social and public-service skills.

The elementary students have an opportunity to be given important health messages from admired "big friends" from the high school.

The program also allows teens to project a different image than is often portrayed.

"We believe it will have an impact on our youth to know that not all teens drink, use drugs, are violent as depicted in media today," noted health teacher Heather Johnson. "We have such an amazing district of teachers and students to allow cooperative work, to this degree, to come to fruition. I applaud these high schoolers for their selfless nature to so passionately make an impact and perhaps a difference in the lives of our elementary students. One day soon, those same elementary students will be paying it forward when they enter high school."