Shepherds, Author at Shepherds Mentors

Timex Hosts Shepherd Students for Career Day

Shepherds | November 12, 2019

Shepherds students (pictured here with Timex CEO Tobias Reiss-Schmidt and Timex staff) enjoyed a great day at Timex headquarters in Middlebury, CT. Employees from numerous departments presented their career paths. Timex generously sponsored our Career Day, with supplemental funding from the Near & Far Aid Association in Fairfield, CT.

Thank you to Timex staff for providing Shepherd Students such engaging presentations and discussions. Our students were thrilled at the opportunity to learn from Timex about many parts of their company.

New Students & Mentors Meet

Shepherds | September 27, 2019

The beginning of school is an exciting time for both mentors and Shepherds students. Last week at Notre Dame West Haven and Kolbe Cathedral High School, Shepherds freshman and their mentors met each other for the first time and had a celebratory meal with upper year students and their mentors. “It was like a family reunion,” claimed Executive Director Dan McAuliffe, “welcoming back our student and mentors and inviting new members into our Shepherds community.”

To see more photos, go to Shepherds’ Instagram.

SAT Preparation for October Testing

Shepherds | September 24, 2019

Shepherds is best known for providing a non-public, college preparatory education and a personal mentor for each inner-city youth in our program. We do so much more. One of the tools we give our students is additional preparation for SAT/ACT tests. Kolbe Cathedral High School students in our program are currently preparing for the October SAT. The extra support students receive from Shepherds will help them achieve their highest scores.

Shepherds & NDWH in Search of a Few Good Men

Shepherds | September 12, 2019

Shepherds empowers inner-city Connecticut youth to build a foundation for success by providing a college-prepartory education at a non-public high school, academic and life skills, along with the positive role model and support of a Shepherds mentor. The whole student model, where Shepherds provides not only opportunity but guidance, is critical to the success of the student and has a ripple effect on the student’s family and community.

But that positive impact cannot be done without community volunteers willing to step up to make a difference in a student’s life. Spending a few hours a month mentoring an at-risk youth can help improve their schoolwork, their behavior and their self-esteem. Studies have shown that mentoring high school students improves attendance, class participation, academic success and higher college acceptance rates. Last year, all Shepherds graduates were accepted and are currently attending college.

“We are looking for caring adult mentors of all ages to make a real difference for our Shepherds’ Notre Dame High School West Haven students,” said Dan McAuliffe, Executive Director of Shepherds. “If you have a few hours a month and the desire to make a difference, we want to talk with you about our program.”

Being a mentor not only benefits the student. Mentoring is a satisfying endeavor for the mentor as well. The satisfaction of helping a young person achieve their goals is personally impactful. Additionally, mentoring is a skill that is valued by employers as it demonstrates a willingness and ability to work and teach others. Developing that skill with a high school student is a great way to flex those mentoring muscles. Mentoring is a relationship where both sides can learn and grow, despite the focus being on the student’s progress.

“We have a few Notre Dame West Haven young men in need of a mentor,” says McAuliffe, “and all of these great kids deserve and would benefit from a mentor.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about Shepherds should contact the office at 203-367-4273 or email info@shepherdsmentors.org.

2019 End of Year Update

Shepherds | July 1, 2019

Shepherds staff and Board wish to thank our mentors, sponsors and donors for their generosity. The 2018-19 school year was very successful for our program and, most importantly, our students. Check out the highlights of what was accomplished this year! …

2019 KCHS Shepherds’ Graduates

Shepherds | June 12, 2019

Shepherds hosted a festive brunch in honor of f the six Kolbe Cathedral High School graduating seniors. The brunch honored the graduates, their families and the students’ mentors. …

Shepherds Celebrating Mentors During National Mentoring Month

Shepherds | January 10, 2019

Shepherds, a non-profit based in Bridgeport, has supported the education and success of inner-city teens from the New Haven and Bridgeport areas for 20 years. During National Mentoring Month, Shepherds students will celebrate the role that mentors play in their lives with a Mentor Appreciation Night at Notre Dame West Haven High School. Mentors make a monthly commitment of time and energy to an individual student and receive professional training and extensive staff support throughout their four-year commitment.

Results over 20 years have demonstrated that Shepherds students have a much higher likelihood of graduating from high school, pursuing higher education, breaking the cycle of poverty and becoming productive members of society. Since 1998, 265 students who might otherwise have dropped out of high school have graduated and gone on to institutions of higher learning, military or civil service roles.

Shepherds is committed to helping these students achieve their potential through a high quality, college preparatory curriculum, go on to higher education, and eventually become valuable and productive members of society. Fifteen adult mentors are needed for students beginning high school in September of 2019.

Financial sponsors are always needed to help to defray tuition costs and provide additional supports and services throughout the school year including test prep and remedial supports. If you are open to making a valuable impact on a young person’s life and reaping the personal rewards that come with it, please contact Dan McAuliffe, Shepherds’ Executive Director, by April 15th. You can reach Dan by email dmcauliffe@shepherdsmentors.org or call him at 203-367-4273.