One sure sign of Fall at SSP is the Opening Dinner. Each year, our new class of freshman and their mentors are given a chance to meet and connect over dinner at the school they attend. Returning SSP students and their mentors are also invited to this dinner as a way to kick the school year off and reconnect in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

To begin, SSP staff lead the mentors and students through separate training sessions that help orient each of them to what being in the program means. From expectations to helpful suggestions on what to do together, these training sessions are particularly helpful for new mentors who have generously signed on to donate their time and support to a student. As an organization, our main aim is to make sure that these individuals get acquainted not only with their student but also the different resources available to them. When given the proper tools, this relationship becomes the “secret sauce” that makes our program so successful.

So far this year, the schools we’ve attended have done a great job at creating an engaging dinner environment. We’ve also had record attendance for returning students and mentors!

Check out the fun we had!

Hadjah Bah (Cathedral ’18) meets her mentor, Catherine Nelson, for the first time

Magdelin Jimenez (St. Jean Baptiste ’15) hugs her mentor Martha Cousins after speaking to the group at the St. Jean Baptiste Dinner.

Katelyn Torres (Cathedral ’18) and her guardian get to know Katelyn’s new mentor, Kristen Montello

Amanda Ortiz (Preston ’18) enjoys dinner with her new mentor, Stephanie Schweitzer

Student Speaker (Saint Raymond Boys ’15) addresses the group

Kerry Conroy, the SSP Coordinator at La Salle, introduces Denise Durham Williams

SSP Staff Member Orlando Torres informs La Salle Freshmen on how to be a great mentee

Katie Dearing, the Director of Sponsor Recruitment at SSP, gives an orientation to mentors at Cathedral High School

St. Jean Baptiste Freshmen are excited to meet their mentors!