It's the start of a new friendship.

 

"You're getting a new friend today," said Rock Island Center for Math & Science Principal John Hawley to a group of his students. 

 

On January 26, 2024, 14 Rock Island Center for Math & Science students got matched with an employee from John Deere. 

 

"We really want to celebrate you because you were chosen by teachers for this opportunity. We asked them to pick out students who they thought who would do well with this and they chose all of you," said Mr. Hawley. 

 

The students sat down with their mentor to enjoy some games and doughnuts and to get to know one another. 

 

Twice a month the John Deere employees will volunteer their time to come to RICMS and spend one-on-one time with their new buddy. 

 

The students that are participating are in grades second through fifth. The hope is to continue this mentorship every year so the students can stay with the same mentor every year. 

 

"We are partnering with John Deere to provide volunteers in many ways.  They have volunteered in the classroom, at Immerse (a program at the Putnam), book fairs...etc.  With the John Deere Friend program, we were seeking volunteers who wanted to be a trustworthy friend to one of our students and expand the horizons of our students beyond our school," said Mr. Hawley. 

 

There's a possibility more John Deer employees could volunteer which would allow more students to have the opportunity.