Full circle: Kennebunk seniors return to elementary school as mentors

KENNEBUNK, Maine —Seniors at Kennebunk High School are trading their advanced coursework for kindergarten story time as part of a mentorship program that connects older students with elementary school children.

The program, coordinated by Kennebunk Elementary School Counselor Austin Muir, pairs high school seniors with elementary classrooms as part of their community service projects and senior year experiences.

"Those younger kids view them as rock stars," Muir. "It's really supportive. And they're not just going to see them here at school, but they're also going to see them in their own communities."

The initiative began three years ago when elementary school staff recognized they needed more diverse perspectives in their building. Rather than hiring outside mentors, they turned to students already within RSU 21.

This year, demand from elementary staff exceeded the number of available high school mentors — a problem Muir welcomes as a sign of the program's success.

Four senior mentors interviewed for this story shared remarkably similar takeaways from their experiences. When asked what the elementary students had taught them, each responded with the same word: patience.

"Everyone has a different experience and just being more thoughtful about the way that I talk to people," said senior Ella Beals, who plans to major in elementary education at the University of Maine at Farmington. "Everyone comes from a different background, and I think it's really important to remember that."

For Beals and another senior, Molly McKinney, the program represents a full-circle moment, as both seniors were able to work in their second-grade classroom with their teacher, Beth MacLeod. 

“It's really nostalgic because there are a lot of things I remember, but it's also really different,” McKinney said. “It's been fun to come back here (to KES) because I actually haven't been back since I left. So it's just kind of cool to be part of the younger community here again.”

“When I was young, I thought the book stacks were so tall, and now they're only up to my waist,” Beals said. “It’s amazing seeing how different everything is now that I'm older and getting to feel like a kid again.”

The program requires preparation. Mentors receive articles about working with young children and training on appropriate boundaries, both physical and emotional. They learn how to handle concerning disclosures from children and are ultimately told to "have fun and be present."

The mentorship experience is influencing some students' college and career plans. 

“I feel like this isn't even a job. This is just fun,” said Makena Garriepy, who is going to college to study psychology. “I've enjoyed every second I've had with the kids and creating relationships with them and memories. And knowing that I'm making their day just a little bit better is really, really impactful.”

Audrey Madden, who is bound for Merrimack College to study marketing, emphasized the program's value extends beyond those pursuing education careers.

"Even if you're not interested in education or teaching, I think it's a really great full-circle moment," Madden said.

In addition to patience, Madden said she is taking memories of the smiling kids with her as she transitions to college.

“I've learned that it's very fun to be in school,” Madden said. “I love to play the games with them, pushing them on the swings, and hide and seek. And I love just to put a smile on their face here.”

Muir hopes to continue building the program organically, including people who want to participate and are genuinely interested in mentoring young children.

"It's something I look forward to every spring," Muir said. “I hope that we just keep doing it and build it organically and include people who want to be included.”

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