Old Mill Road sixth graders get guidance from high school athletes

Soon-to-be middle schoolers at Old Mill Road Elementary School in the North Merrick School District got a glimpse of what the future holds on Dec. 3 as older high school peers visited to lend guidance and wisdom.

Member of the ACES – Athletes Compassionately Educating Students – Club at Calhoun High School visit all three North Merrick schools each year to act as mentors to sixth graders. The athletes span a range of teams, from football and softball players to track and cross-country sprinters. In each sixth grade classroom at Old Mill Road, peers learned about one another through an ice breaker questionnaire. After introductions were made, sixth graders asked thoughtful questions about Calhoun students’ educational and athletic journeys, which they answered for the whole class. The special visit helped boost excitement for life past graduation while alleviating nerves over advanced material.