Fourth grade student leaders take on mentorship role at Park

It’s mid-afternoon inside Lori Oleksak’s Autistic and Life Skills classroom at Park Elementary, and her students are buzzing with excitement. The handful of kindergarten and first grade students are eagerly awaiting a trio of visitors – fourth graders who are part of the Park Elementary Principal’s Advisory Committee (PEPAC).

Since early April, PEPAC students have paid regular visits to Mrs. Oleksak’s classroom to serve as friends, tutors, and mentors to the younger students. The collaboration serves multiple purposes. It challenges the fourth graders to further build upon their burgeoning leadership skills, all while exposing the younger children to a wider range of friendly, compassionate faces who are eager to help them grow.

“From a building perspective, we are always looking for authentic ways to build inclusive practices and leadership opportunities for students, and this partnership naturally brings both together in a meaningful way,” Park Principal Cara McKenna said.

Ms. McKenna and Mrs. Oleksak met with the PEPAC students in mid-March to get their feedback on the potential collaboration. The informational meeting allowed the students to ask questions, from basic curiosities about the ages of the students they’d be working with to more probing questions about some of the challenges Mrs. Oleksak’s students navigate daily.

“I had done a program like this a few years ago (before COVID) and it went over very well,” Mrs. Oleksak said. “The students on both sides get so much out of this. I would like to see this continue next year and start off the school year with a set time for this built into the schedule.”

There was very little hesitation from the fourth graders. They jumped right in with genuine enthusiasm.

“When the first group came in and we said they would be playing games with the students, they took the idea and ran with it,” Mrs. Oleksak said. “They jumped right in and set up the games. Some of the students who already came into the classroom are asking when they can come in again.”

Most of Mrs. Oleksak’s students are with her and a team of paraprofessionals and learning support specialists for the entire day. Having the fourth graders visit on a regular basis empowers the younger students to become more comfortable in meeting new people, expanding their worlds and enhancing their social skills.

“I think both groups of students learn so much from each other. The students in the support classroom are learning how to interact socially with other students. The PEPAC students are learning leadership skills as well as how to interact with others who may have some challenges,” Mrs. Oleksak said. “As the PEPAC students move on hopefully they take what they have learned and share it with other students in their grade level.

“These experiences also help build confidence and comfort in social settings, which can carry over into other parts of the school day,” Ms. McKenna added.

As members of PEPAC, the fourth graders have already showcased their leadership skills and willingness to take on more responsibilities. They’re already asked to be role models throughout the building. Now, Mrs. Oleksak said, they’re learning how to support and include everyone.

“It reinforces that leadership is not just about leading, but about empathy, patience, and creating a sense of belonging for all students,” Ms. McKenna said.

During the Wednesday afternoon session in April, the visiting PEPAC students were Kennedy, Lynette, and Ella. They helped Mrs. Oleksak’s students set up three games, and while there is plenty of fun being had throughout the room, there are valuable lessons being learned, too. Whether it’s building on foundational skills like counting or reading basic directions, improving physical skills like dexterity in picking up small pieces or manipulating board games, or enhancing social emotional learning by patiently waiting for their next turn, the sessions provide the students with ample opportunity to grow, all while having a good time.

“I think having the students enjoying the time together and seeing the smiles on everyone's faces are the memories that will be taken away from this experience,” Mrs. Oleksak said.

“Seeing students naturally support one another—without prompting—has been especially powerful and speaks to the authenticity of the connections being built,” Ms. McKenna said.

As the final year of Park Elementary and Barrett Elementary comes to a close, administrators and faculty members are busy planning for all Pre-K through fifth grade students to be united under one roof at the new Steel Valley Elementary. Much is still to be determined about the structure of the day and which programs will be in place from the start, but this kind of mentorship program is a candidate to be included from the start.

“We have talked about continuing this into next school year,” Mrs. Oleksak said. “There are so many valuable skills being learned on both sides that it is beneficial to continue.”

“We would love to build this into a more structured and consistent part of the schedule so that all students have ongoing access to these experiences,” Ms. McKenna said. “This partnership highlights the best of what our school community represents—connection, inclusion, and student leadership—and we are proud of the way our students have embraced it."