Mentorship Helps Park View School Families Feel at Home

Three years ago, Donna Van Swol moved from Glenview to Morton Grove, which meant moving her second grader to Park View School.

“I was very nervous and I asked ‘Do you have a mentor program,” Van Swol said. “The answer was ‘No, would you like to start one?’ I said ‘Absolutely.’”

Van Swol set up a program where families whose children are attending Park View for the first time are matched with veteran families who can answer their questions and ease their anxieties.

“It’s all about making people feel more comfortable,” Van Swol said.

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Park View’s program is the only of its type in Morton Grove's public schools. Superintendent Gary Zabilka said he thinks the program works very well at the small, but growing school.

“We’ve got such a close-knit family, why not extend it to those who just moved into the area?” he said. “Our enrollment continues to slowly increase. We’re glad to have them and try to receive them as warmly as we can.”

Each new family is assigned a mentor to exchange contact information with. Many meet during the school's packet pick up, while others are introduced for the first time at the annual welcome dinner. Mentors answer questions and offer advice on a variety of topics including bus stops, the curriculum, school supplies, special events and extracurricular activities. Families often stay in touch through September and October, checking in as more questions or concerns come up.

Dinner kicks off new year

About 40 new families attended a welcome dinner at Park View on Monday. Parents and their children met faculty members, did crafts led by local Girl Scouts, picked up information from the Morton Grove Public Library and PTO, toured the school and chatted with their mentors.

Angie and Darrell Barber went to the dinner with their daughter, Tiffani, who will be attending first grade at Park View, after going to kindergarten at a private school.

“I think this is really nice, having all the families come, get together and learn more about the school,” Angie said.

District 70 Board of Education member Aneta Greiner has been serving as a mentor since the program started, drawing from her experiences sending her three children to Park View. This year she’s mentoring four families with kindergarteners.

“For the first children, starting school is a big deal,” Greiner said. “I’m very happy I can be part of this process and ease that transition. I think it really contributes to the success of parent involvement. These experiences help feed friendships that will last a long time.”

Nabila Vadaria is proof that Greiner is right. Her child attended Park View for the first time last year.

“It was so overwhelming,” Vadaria said. “The parents were so nice, that I felt I can’t wait to come to Park View because I felt I already belonged here. This is a great program.”

Vandaria said she plans to become a mentor next year, once she has more experience to draw on, but Monday night she was showing her gratitude by volunteering to serve food to the new families and mentors.

Stan and Heather Sobor spent part of the evening chatting with their mentor, Lisa Linke. Their first child, Hali, is starting kindergarten at Park View this year.

“It’s been great,” Heather said. “She answered all our questions. I know where to go and what to do.”

“She answered [Hali’s] questions, most importantly where the potties are,” Stan said.