The Foran Natural Helpers club is advised by Mrs. Lisa Farrell and Mrs. Melissa Kaminski. Natural Helpers is a national program for middle school and high school age students. Interested students must complete an application form, which is usually available in early March, and will also need to participate in an interview. Once chosen for the Natural Helpers program, the students will participate in a formal training in peer mediation, peer counseling, and communication skills.
Natural Helpers work with teachers in their advisory classes to make freshman students feel comfortable through advisory lessons. Around March of each school year, Natural Helpers give tours to incoming freshmen, and the Natural Helpers also help out with freshman orientation in August.
The advisors seek to find student leaders for the Natural Helpers club to help with school spirit, getting students involved in sports, clubs, activities or simply be a friendly face to the freshman as they navigate their new school.
Farrell states, “The goal of Natural Helpers is to make the incoming freshmen feel welcome and part of our high school, give freshmen a sense of connection and to make connections with peers in the building.”
The goal of Natural Helpers is to spread positivity.
Sophomore Gavin Conte, first year Natural Helper, states he is “Eager to help the freshman, or anyone for that matter this school year, help at the open house event, help the teachers with whatever they may need, and anything else asked of him from his advisors.”
The Foran Natural Helpers meet with their assigned advisories every common time, as well as one monthly program meeting during the school day and one monthly program meeting after school.
Junior Jamie Sanz, second year Natural Helper, explains, “Natural Helpers is an opportunity to volunteer within the school community, it is fun to be involved and I enjoy interacting with the freshman. We want to make the freshman feel comfortable in their new school, and if we can help in that process we will succeed.”
Natural Helpers seek to be an informal helping network and are recognized amongst their peers as being natural leaders.
Junior Luke Hackett, second year Natural Helper, states, “It’s a great program, we meet new people, get to help the younger students, and I really like the whole community around it.”
Foran Natural Helpers are looking forward to a great positive school year as they take on their leadership roles.
