New Family "Buddy Sponsor" Program

What is the Buddy Sponsor Program?

St. Martin School introduces a new program that pairs incoming students and their families with existing families or "Buddy Sponsor Families".  The Buddy Sponsor Families serve as mentors or points of contact for the new families.  The goal of the program is to welcome the newly enrolled students and their families into our school community and provide guidance and communication of issues they may face throughout the school year.

How Does the Program Work?

Each new incoming family is paired with an existing family that has children in the same grade/s as the new student/s.  If a Buddy Sponsor Family in the same grade is unavailable, a family from a higher grade may be paired.

The Buddy Sponsor Family will serve as a point of contact for the new family for the duration of the school year and have the following responsibilities:

• Welcome the new family by attending a "Welcoming" Social event at the start of the school year.
• Answer any questions or direct the new families to the appropriate sources for information.  Provide communication of school events, classroom activities and sport events that may be of interest.
• Invite new families to school social events, PTG meetings, fundraising or sports events, Mass celebrations, etc.

New Buddy Sponsor Families will be recruited at the end of each school year for participation in the program the following September.

Buddy Sponsor Program Advantages

For New Families:

• Provides them a familiar, knowledgeable and friendly contact for information regarding St. Martin's school activities.
• Provides a welcome into the St. Martin community.
• Gives an opportunity for new students to meet classmates prior to the first day of school.
• Opportunity to make long lasting friendships.

For Buddy Sponsor Families:

• Share your “insider” knowledge and experiences for others to benefit.
• Meet and introduce new friends prior to the start of school.
• Earn 5 hours toward your Volunteer Hours Requirement.
• Opportunity to make long lasting friendships.

How Do I Volunteer as a Buddy Sponsor Family?

We are looking for families that have been at St. Martin’s for one full school year or more to sponsor this year’s incoming families.  We are also looking for a volunteer to be a chairperson for this program next school year.  The chairperson would be responsible for recruiting new Buddy families, obtaining the list of new students and families from the school office and matching them with Buddy Sponsor Families.  The chairperson, with the help of the Buddy Sponsor Families, will be responsible for organizing a Welcome Social Event. 

If you are interested in participating in this program or have further questions, please contact the School Office or Patricia Johnson.