Every new year brings several new students. Freshmen with Link Crew, and exchange students with teacher Shawn Sinicola. Junior Taya Hall and counselor Daniella Bickel wanted to find a way to introduce new students to social events and activities within CHS. This is what sparked the idea of creating the Bulldog Mentors. 

“I thought it would be a good opportunity for the new students who didn’t have any resources,” Hall said. “It’s giving them someone they can reach out to or become friends with if they haven’t found that yet.” 

While the Bulldog Mentors program provides a safe space that enables those new to the district to reach out, every student is different, and connection on a deeper level can occasionally be difficult. 

“At times some of the students don’t want our help,” Hall said. “They’ve already made friends or simply don’t like the idea of the whole process and aren’t willing to connect.” 

Hoping that students would be open to sharing bits and pieces about themselves and what they are looking to get out of their experiences at CHS sometimes things just flowed naturally. 

“It depends on who your kid is. When we broke off into one one-on-one conversation you could see pairs laughing and having conversations while with others it seemed some students just listened while others talked.” Hall said. 

Junior Ashley Sherwood also noticed connections building including the one she was building with her student.

 “I didn’t think it was hard connecting with him. I had to remind myself that it was their first time learning about all of this just like it was my first time teaching.”