Become a mentor to an NTPS student!

  • Mentoring Word Cloud with the biggest phrase being 'Mentoring Works'.

    Why become a mentor to an NTPS student?

    Being a kid today can be tough. That’s why mentoring is so important to show young people that someone cares about them, assures them they are not alone, and makes them feel like they matter. While 1 in 3 young people will grow up without a mentor, research shows that quality mentoring relationships can have powerful and positive benefits, including:

    • Increased high school graduation rates
    • Better attitudes about school
    • Healthier relationships
    • Enhanced self-confidence
    • Improved school attendance, academic performance, and behavior

    North Thurston Public Schools provides a variety of unique mentoring opportunities that match older peers or adults with younger students to share friendship, fun, and experiences — with the ultimate goal of helping students become empowered and future-ready! Our mentoring programs include NTPS Lunch Buddies (1:1 elementary), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington (peer mentoring for middle schoolers), and military mentoring opportunities, such as the Lunch Brigade with Joint Base Lewis–McChord (JBLM) 

    We are also proud to have a variety of mentoring partnerships with community organizations, including Give Back!Pizza Klatch, YWCA, TOGETHER! Clubhouse, and Push for Dreams; they offer 1:1 and group mentoring activities that best suit each student.

    Students are connected to a mentorship opportunity that best serves their strengths, goals, and dreams. For 1:1 mentor matches, mentors generally meet with their mentee at their school for about one hour each week, helping them discuss, set, and achieve their goals.

    Would your child benefit from a mentor? To request a mentor for your child, please contact your school counselor or email mentoring@nthurston.k12.wa.us.

    Read more about mentoring and volunteering with NTPS in Thurston Talk!

Mentoring Opportunities

  • Lunch Buddy Mentoring (1:1)

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters

  • Give Something Back (Give Back)

  • Military Mentors

  • Pizza Klatch

  • Push for Dreams

  • TOGETHER! Clubhouse

  • YWCA Youth Action Circles

Questions? Contact us!

Mentors! Program Vision

  • NTPS MENTORS! works to support and empower our students by providing authentic mentoring opportunities with caring peers or adult friends. By working together, they can set, pursue, and achieve positive goals. It’s also a chance for them to work on decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. 

    We focus on:

    • social-emotional learning
    • friendship
    • cultural responsiveness and equity

    2 students looking at a laptop together

    Two students working at a table