Saratoga News Community mentors add extra dimension to GATE By Shari Kaplan Bringing students and adults together in a friendly learning environment is the goal of Mentor Match, a new component of the Gifted and Talented Education program (GATE) in the Saratoga Union School District. The symbiotic relationships of Mentor Match form when community members volunteer to come into the schools to mentor students who have a high ability or a high interest in a particular subject area. According to district GATE coordinator Terri Raynaud, approximately 13 mentors are now meeting with students and the program has been well-received. However, the district is still looking for more individuals to meet with students. Mentors are not limited to those who live or work in the Saratoga or Los Gatos areas. "Through recommendations from teachers, parents or student study teams, we develop a list of students each year who would benefit from working with a mentor," Raynaud explains. "We match small groups of students and a mentor who have similar interests, decide on a time at the mentor's convenience, and determine the number of times per month the group will meet," she says, adding that a popular time is 7:30 to 8:25 a.m., which is before most mentors have to be at work. During- and after-school arrangements are also available. Among the topics in Mentor Match are geology, space science, genetics, marine biology, aviation, medical science, math, storytelling and writing, music, art, gardening and computers. Although most mentors meet with students individually or in small groups, some mentors go into a classroom and interact with the entire class. For more information about Mentor Match, call Raynaud at 867-3424 ext. 206 or e-mail her at traynaud@susd.k12.ca.us. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.