Mentorship and Tutorship

Mentorship

To teach boys that “emotional courage is courage and that courage and empathy are the sources of real strength in life”, the Mentorship Programme pairs senior and junior boys in a mentoring capacity, under the guidance of a staff tutor. The tutor shares time with a small group of boys each morning. This Tutorship Programme in turn strengthens relationships between boys and staff.

The Mentorship Programme is regarded as an integral and vitally important part of a pupil’s life at the College. It is designed to integrate the junior boys into the life of the College and the houses as quickly as possible. It also provides leadership opportunities for the senior boys, as well as an opportunity to serve.

Grade 12 / Grade 9 Mentorship System

Where possible, each Grade 12 boy is mentor to a Grade 9 boy in his House. A contract is signed between the two, with the Housemaster as witness.

As per the agreement, the senior’s responsibilities to his junior are:

  • To assist with his junior’s academic, sporting and cultural endeavours;
  • To see to his general wellbeing;
  • To build a healthy relationship with his junior, based on treating him with respect and dignity, and introduce him to the Kearsney way of life, routines, procedures and traditions;
  • To produce a written report in July for his parents, outlining his progress, and to phone his parents in the first term, and whenever else necessary, to provide feedback.

In return, the junior helps his senior according to the College rules:

  • makes his bed before breakfast;
  • tidies his study once a day;
  • polishes his shoes in the evening.

Grade 11 / Grade 8 Mentorship System

Grade 11s undertake certain responsibilities and obligations with regard to the Grade 8s in Haley House. There is no reward and the programme is based on the concept of service. The Grade 11s will be allocated Grade 8s from their own house, and will meet with them on an informal basis every day during tutorship.

The aim is for the Grade 11 boy to help his Grade 8 settle into the College’s routine and way of life as quickly as possible and to give advice where necessary. The Grade 11 will write a written report or letter for his mentor partner’s parents by the end of  Term 2. He will also make verbal contact in the first term, either by phone or by meeting them at the College. In this way it is hoped that the Grade 8 boys’ transition and integration into their senior houses will be a much easier one.

In all likelihood, this mentorship partnership will continue in their Grade 12 / Grade 9 year.