‘Buddies’ wrap up year

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Big Buddy Jennifer Terriquez from Mississinawa High school enjoys an activity with her Little Buddy, Abigail Barton, daughter of Maria Barton from Greenville.

DARKE COUNTY — The Big Brothers Big Sisters High School mentoring program concluded 2014-15 “Big Buddies” after-school program with each site celebrating with snacks, games and crafts.

The program pairs high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with local youths, and the “matches” meet twice a month throughout the school year. The High School “Buddies” work together with their “Littles” on activities that focus on educational and social enhancement, as well as personal safety.

This past year the curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Some of the STEM activities included building a tower out of toothpicks and marshmallows, learning about chromatography, learning new games on Kindle Fires, math relays, creating bubble wands, and much more. All activities are planned and supervised by the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff.

The 2014-15 Darke County Big Buddies program comprised sites in Greenville at Woodland Heights Elementary, Ansonia Elementary and Versailles Elementary. The Shelby County Big Buddies program consisted of Emerson, Longfellow, Whittier and Northwood Elementary schools, all located in Sidney. There were 23 Bigs and Littles at Woodland Heights, 37 at Ansonia Elementary, 35 at Versailles Elementary, 25 at Emerson, 53 at Longfellow, 53 at Whittier, and 37 at Northwood.

Big Brother Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County is a nonprofit United Way agency and an affiliate organization of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Any high school student interested in becoming a mentor for the 2015-16 school year should call the office at 492-7611 or 547-9622. The agency is also still in need of local adult volunteer mentors as well.

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