HS/JH Friendships, positive interactions

Brother to Brother and Sister to Sister are mentorship programs made specifically to mentor junior highers through an upperclassman.

This program, starting with Sister to Sister, has been continued now for over, eight years, and is run by junior high science teacher, Terry Richards and history teacher, Hallie Rojeski. Each share the passion to help counsel these junior highers with people who have been through similar circumstances.

The Brother to Brother program is a more recent installment of the two, continuing now for five years. Richards has grown the program through the years by raising money, by collecting recyclables from class rooms.

Brother to Brother

“I like seeing all of the guys at lunch talking to each other, and the fellowship that goes on there,” Richards said. “I like seeing the younger guys involved with the older guys. What inspired me to start the Brother to Brother program, was that for a long time there was a Sister to Sister program, done by a class of girls. I always thought, why isn’t there something for the boys? Nothing ever happened, and finally I said that I have to do something for the boys, Then I asked myself, how can I pay for this? But then I realize that I could collect cans and bottles for money.”

Richards, being the founder of Brother to Brother at FC is responsible for all of the fun engaging activities that occur in Brother to Brother, by collecting bottles and cans to turn in for money on his own time.

The school has also put bins in every classroom that are to collect bottles and cans for this very purpose. No money comes from the school, and a select number of luncheons are free.

Students in Brother to Brother and Sister to Sister enjoyed their last luncheon with their older brother or sister on Dec. 2, to end the first semester before Christmas Break.

Seventh grader Logan Lewis is currently in the Brother to Brother, with older brother Collin Winegarden, ’15. Lewis enjoys the program and looks forward to joining the program next semester.

“My favorite experience in Brother to Brother would have to be going to lunch with my older brother,” Lewis said. “It’s pretty fun to go off campus. My older brother is Colin Winegarden. I plan to join the program again next semester. I would also encourage others to join the system. It’s really fun to meet a high schooler and become friends with them.”

Seventh grader Raffi Mazmanian was also in the program, and will also be joining next year, because of his good experience this semester.

“My favorite experience this year with Brother to Brother, would be hanging out with my older brother, and getting the chance to meet him and talk,” Mazmanian said. “I also liked to eat lunch with them. I am going to join Brother to Brother next year. I would tell others to join next year, because it’s cool to meet a new person and to hang out with.”

Along with the free luncheons provided, including Panda Express, Taco Bell, students who participate in this activity, whether they be in junior high, an underclassmen or upperclassmen, are the few in the school (other than CJSF, CSF and Seniors) that are allowed at certain times to go off campus for lunch. These events provide a fun bonding time for older brothers or sisters and their corresponding younger brother or sister.

Junior Justin Houts, older brother of Mazmanian, enjoyed spending time with the younger brothers as well as older brothers.

“My favorite part of Brother to Brother was getting to know my brother Raffi better,” Houts said. “I liked getting to spend time with him and get to grow spiritually with him. It was fun to get closer as friends. My favorite experience with him would have to be when we would go to imperial with Tim Nyberg and his brother. It was good to talk about everyday stuff. I would definitely encourage other high schoolers to join next semester. All things aside from putting things on your resume, it’s a good fun experience you can do. You only are in high school once, so might as well live up the experience while you still can.”

Winegarden, older brother of Lewis, also enjoys getting to know his younger brother as well going off campus for lunch.

“The thing I most enjoy about Brother to Brother is the experience of getting to partner with a junior higher and going off campus for lunch,” Winegarden said. “I won’t be able to join next year because I’m a senior, but I think others should join it because being in it as an older brother or a younger brother is great, it helps on both sides socially. It’s just a fun thing to do. My favorite experience of this year is when we went to Wendy?s and my younger brother ate two frostys at once.”

Sister to Sister

While Rojeski is the current advisor of Sister to Sister, the program has been around since 2008. Previous FC teacher including Molly Sargent and Natalie Douty ran the program prior to Rojeski. As the program did close down for a couple of years, Todd Bennett, former Principle, asked Rojeski to start it back up again.
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“What I enjoy most about the program is getting to know that high school kids again after having them in class,” Rojeski said. “I also like providing what the junior high students really want and desire. The most enjoyable luncheon was the last one we had when parents provided food for us. It’s always good to see the interaction between kids having a good time.”

This program is also funded by collecting bottles and cans, led by Richards. Sister to Sister also has off campus lunches and free luncheons. Seventh grader Elizabeth Hinshaw, younger sister of Skyler Lee, appreciates getting to know other high schoolers as well as students her own age.

“I enjoy Sister to Sister because you get to spend time with people you don’t know, and you get to meet new people,” Hinshaw said. “My favorite experience this year was the luncheon before Christmas break. I might join again next year. I would also encourage other people to join because you get to meet new people that you might not know, and you get to know high schoolers better.”

Hinshaw’s older sister, Lee, enjoys the time she spends with her younger sister as well as the program as a whole.

“I enjoy Sister to Sister, just because it’s a great time to interact with someone that you probably wouldn’t talk to otherwise,” Lee said. “It’s also a great opportunity to impact someone’s life, and just get to know someone that you might not have met before. It was always great to get to go off campus and get the chance to talk to everyone in a group and see how junior highers interact with each other. I would encourage other people to join, just because as far as impacting people and spreading kindness to people, it’s a great opportunity to help others.”

Sign-ups begin next year for this program. When the time comes around next semester, visit room 629 to sign up for Brother to Brother, and room 628 for Sister to Sister programs.

For more features, read the Feb. 11 article, A day in the life of an FC secretary.

Follow The Feather via Twitter and Instagram: @thefeather and @thefeatheronlilne. This writer can be reached via Twitter: @skylerklee.