Name of Sponsoring Body: The Josephian Association

Proposed Commencement Time: September 2009

Background Information:

As SJACS’s alumni body, the Josephian Association is desirous of helping students of St. Joseph’s A-C School. This Scheme has been proposed to the SJACS School Management Committee and accepted in principle as worthwhile. This paper sets out the proposed details of implementation.

Objective:

As adolescents going through their formative years, students often face a variety of challenges, whether these have to do with academic studies, extra-curricular activities, career planning or personal life. Having gone through the same experience at school and later on gathered valuable knowledge and insight during their working careers, many alumni are in a good position to offer valuable guidance and advice as mentors. Through this scheme, students may seek help and advice from SJACS seniors acting as mentors. The primary aim of Josephians is to establish a link with the young, thus sharing and promoting the much cherished St. Joseph’s family spirit.

Trial Scheme:

The Josephian Association will co-operate with the School in running a trial scheme in Academic Year 2009-10. The Association will recruit a number of old boys as volunteers. The number of Mentors is initially set at 12. Each Mentor will be assigned two students. The Association and the School will periodically assess the progress of the Scheme. If considered a success, the scope will in future be expanded to benefit more students. This will coincide with the timely opening of the new school building in academic Year 2010-11. This is when the Association will be given the use of certain premises on the new campus thus making it much easier for students and mentors to meet and interact.

Enrolment:

The School will help publicize the Scheme. A limited number of places will be offered (24) to students in F.5. Applicants who wish to participate should submit their names. If there are more than 24 applicants, a ballot will be held. The School will then pass the names to the Association so that mentors can then be allocated or matched. All students participating in this Scheme must have prior written approval from their parents/guardians. The School and the Association will each appoint a Scheme Coordinator.

Mode of Scheme:

1. All Mentors are SJACS old boys having a suitable standing in the community. They offer their time and advice to the Mentees on a completely free and voluntary basis.
2. As Mentees, students are free to accept or turn down the choice of Mentor allotted, after consultation with parents/guardians.
3. Mentor and Student are free to meet and communicate by making their own arrangements. Meetings will ordinarily take place only during the day time. If any meeting is conducted in the evening time, the Mentor will first call the parents/guardians to obtain agreement.
4. There is no limit to the number of topics, which could be academic or non-academic in nature. The Scheme gives maximum flexibility so that the Student Mentee may as much as possible share and benefit from the experience and advice given by the Mentor. The Scheme encourages liberal and creative thinking but discourages extreme and radical views.
5. The scheme is based on a completely voluntary basis. Therefore, any Mentee or Mentor is free to leave the Scheme at any time by notifying the Scheme Coordinators and without any obligation to assign any reasons.