Big Spartans, Little Spartans: Mentorship Program Connects Sycamore Students

At the start of the 2024-25 school year, Sycamore Community School District 427 launched a new student mentorship program, Big Spartans, Little Spartans. This program strengthens connections between Sycamore High School and West Elementary School students. Big Spartans, Little Spartans was brought to life through the dedicated efforts of Emily Waller, West Elementary Principal; Molly Tucker, MTSS Coordinator; and Mollie Momenteller, Instructional Coach at Sycamore High School. This initiative fosters positive relationships across grade levels, with high school students serving as mentors to younger students.

The idea for the program was inspired by a similar successful initiative observed in another district. Molly Tucker, the program’s liaison, shared how the proximity between West Elementary and the high school made Sycamore an ideal candidate for such a program.

"Last school year, we visited a school in District 204 with a mentorship program that had great success,” Tucker said. “We saw an opportunity to replicate that model, giving West students a high school role model and fostering a stronger school community."

Each week, high school mentors travel to West Elementary to spend time with their “Little Spartans.” They collaborate on a variety of activities designed to build confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The weekly visits have quickly become a highlight for students on both ends of the mentorship.

The positive impact of Big Spartans, Little Spartans can be seen in the student participants. “Interacting with the littles and seeing how they’re all different makes it a unique challenge to know how to approach each one. It’s something new to look forward to and has given me a chance to apply skills outside of school,” stated a Sycamore High School senior. A fourth grader at West shared, “I love working together on STEM challenges and making pumpkins. It’s fun meeting new people and getting to know older and younger students.”

The program's success has sparked excitement for its future. "We want to involve even more students and give high schoolers greater responsibility in developing and planning weekly activities. Our goal is to continue strengthening the bonds between our schools and ensuring that every student feels supported and empowered," shared Tucker.