By Maire Crooks, The Current Co-Editor in Chief
September 2022 marks the start of yet another school year, which means yet another new freshman class roaming the halls. For the incoming class, high school is an unfamiliar environment, causing increased fear, anxiety, and stress among students.
To aid the transition for the Class of 2026, River Hill has a mentor program, Hawks on the Rise, led by Mrs. Jocelyn Martin, a member of the RHHS English Department. Established in the 2019-2020 school year, Hawks on the Rise has been an essential part of River Hill for a number of years now. Hundreds of new students are assisted annually, and the 2022-2023 school year is no different.
The program consists of three groups of people: the “Master Falconers,” the teachers; the “Falconers,” upperclassman mentors; and the “Fledglings,” the freshman mentees. Each upperclassman mentor is assigned a group of five mentees, called a “kettle.” Four “kettles” come together to form a larger “cauldron” that the Master Falconer oversees.
The freshmen met with their mentors for the first time during new student orientation on August 25th. The upperclassmen led a building tour, explained the lunch shifts and got to know their mentees.
On August 31st, the kettles and cauldrons met again during hawktime to touch base and offer any assistance the fledglings might need. Additionally, falconers are expected to always be available to answer anything and everything, ranging from course content help to homecoming questions.
The consensus among this year’s fledglings is that the program has been helpful so far. Freshmen Marella Virmani, Lauren Virmani, and Jennifer Newman concluded that they would rate the program about a six or seven out of ten so far. Bahar Demirekler (9) elaborates on why they rated their Hawks on the Rise experience in this way: “They answered the questions I asked.”
Last year, a mandatory hawktime was held once a month. This school year, cauldrons are only required to meet for two hawktimes, one of which was scheduled on August 31st. This is because “last year… freshmen had only spent a little time in middle school due to the pandemic, so they needed to relearn some of the more critical skills such as study skills, navigating Canvas, and where to look when they have specific questions. This year’s freshmen class spent eighth grade in person so they need less [help] navigating school resources and instead reminders and check-ins, which we will be prioritizing by making sure mentors send out texts…creating a more personal bond. If mentees raise concerns about needing additional help we ensure their mentor or another can sit down with them at a time that works well for [the mentee],” describes Cade McGeehan, River Hill senior and Hawks On The Rise “High Tech Hawk.”
The program was founded the year COVID-19 began; this year is the first year Hawks on the Rise has not had to consider the pandemic as a large factor in decision-making. However, “We haven’t faced any major challenges…Mrs. Martin has been able to work out kinks such as how specific directions need to be made, when is the best time to reach out… how to organize kettles” and more, Cade articulates.
In order for the program to continue to achieve the success it has had in the past, it is important that the mentees are matched to a comparable mentor based on common interests and needs. Both the mentor and mentees took a survey at the end of the 2021-22 school year that discussed their hobbies, strengths and weaknesses to ensure each new student gets the best freshman experience possible. This way, “freshmen can ask anyone in their cauldron [for advice], not only [the mentors in] their kettle,” Cade elaborates. Cade mentions that Hawks on the Rise also looks “for mentors that will be accountable” and “persistent and driven people who aren’t afraid to reach out.”
Ultimately, as Cade declares, Hawks on the Rise always keeps their two main goals in mind: to create a “comfortable and encouraging bond between the falconers and mentees” and to foster “an inclusive school community where people are encouraged to be involved and share their voices.”