The Oasis Society focuses on building lasting relationships between the Upper School and Middle School at Poly Prep, aiming to foster connections that support Middle Schoolers’ journeys of identity, scholarship and socioemotional development.
This year, the Oasis Society is not significantly different from years past, as two to three Upper Schoolers will still mentor Middle Schoolers, hopefully allowing the Middle Schoolers to discover their identity and relate more to their role models. However, this year’s program aims to offer a proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel to the challenges faced,” said Dean of Students Jared Winston. While the difficulties the Middle Schoolers face may not disappear instantly through mentorship, the goal is to see positive growth and development over a long period of time. “In the same way that high-scoring test results do not come overnight from studying, the Oasis Society will aid Middle Schoolers in growing into the next leaders of Poly,” said Winston.
Middle Schoolers are developing rapidly in three key areas: socially, academically and personally. The goal of the Upper School mentors is to assist the Middle Schoolers in navigating the challenges they are currently facing. “I also hope that Middle School students feel that Upper School students, rather than adults, provide a space in which they feel comfortable sharing with those who can relate to them,” said Oasis Society Member Eliza Rorech ’26.
Upper School mentors are available to guide Middle Schoolers in the areas where they may not feel entirely comfortable. As they grow, the program and its mentors must evolve along with them—otherwise, the program will be futile. “I think it’s very important that they try new things: new activities, try new languages, try new things to read, because they are inventing themselves,” said World Languages Faculty Maité Iracheta.
“The aim of the Oasis Society is to engage with the Middle Schoolers who need help the most,” said Winston.
According to Common Wealth Charter Academy (CCA), “Middle school students are beginning to figure out their identity and discover the topics and activities they enjoy. They must learn new study habits and skills to prepare for even more challenging high school courses.” In the context of Poly, a school focused so much on fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, having support systems in place allows younger students to anchor themselves in truth and guidance.
“I learned more about people and how to react when someone [is] mean to you,” said a peer mentee who wishes to remain anonymous.
All peer mentees are required to fill out an exit ticket upon the conclusion of the meeting. A peer mentor assists them in this process. Additionally, peer mentors must complete a note sheet or evaluation that outlines the next steps, as well as the positives and negatives of the meeting. Additionally, several meetings are placed throughout the year (usually one month apart) to see continued growth in the peer mentee.
“Mentoring goes beyond simple tutoring or counseling… allowing the mentor to build a relationship with the student… helping them thrive in ensuring their academic, social, and physical life needs are met well,” according to Elevate.
The Oasis Society is not meant to not be just a place where kids feel an obligation to go if they are struggling, but to be a constant network of support where they can grow as people and students. “Discussing specific goals and challenges with a Peer Mentor gives students the avenue to reflect on where they presently are in their college journey and where they would like to be,” according to Liberty University.
Additionally, the Oasis Society hopes to bridge the gaps between Middle and Upper Schoolers, with the latter guiding the former to become the next leaders. Poly’s longest-standing group hopes to mold the clay of the Middle Schoolers into the next masterpiece: the hopers, the believers, the ones who stand up for what is right because they know what is wrong, the people who will be the piercing light in the thickest, gray fog because they once stood in darkness.
