Kicking Off the 2012-2013 School Year

1. Kicking Off the 2012-2013 School Year 9/21/2012 For Mentors of current 10th, 11th and 12th graders

2. Agenda • Welcome Back! • Highlights from Summer • Summer Internships • College Bus Trip • What’s New for This Year • October 4th Kick Off Event • Logistics • Details/ What to expect • Class of 2020 • Companies That Care Announcements • Review Expectations of Mentors • 12th Grade Mentors Sub-Meeting

3. Highlights from Summer- Internships • Rising AIM High Seniors completed internships at their respective mentoring organizations: • ADP • Enterprise Fleet Management • KPMG • Sysmex • UCW students will complete their internships at the end of September due to an earlier start date for school year. “I believe that our relationship became stronger during this time and I’m excited to see it grow.” “It really motivated me and gave me the confidence to know that if you work hard enough the possibilities of becoming what you want to be are endless.” “ I feel that you will do anything to get me into a good college. That means so much to me .”

4. Highlights from Summer Internships In addition to working on-site with their mentors, • Students participated in a weekly seminar with Companies That Care staff that included: • Weekly Lunches with AIM High alumni discussing the transition to college with AIM High Alumni, Shaeisha Moore and Israel Durley • Selecting colleges with a good “fit” • Navigating and completing the Common Application • Drafting admission essays • Working on assignments in Internship Workbook • Students, parents and mentors attended a comprehensive financial aid training seminar

5. College Bus Trip Rising AIM High juniors took a four day college bus trip and visited universities to discuss some of the challenges faced going to college, and how to overcome them . • Monday August 27th: • visit Case Western Reserve University • Tuesday August 28th: • visit Howard University and George Washington University • Duck Tour of Washington D.C. and International Spy Museum • Dinner with AIM High Alumni, Shaiesha Moore and Greg Greer • Wednesday August 29th: • visit University of Richmond and University of Virginia • Thursday August 30th: • Visit Ball State University • Arrive back in Chicago: Debrief: 7PM

6. College Bus Trip • “ Why I want to attend” paragraphs written on the bus trip are reviewed later on in the year for the “Pulitzer in Waiting” prize given at the Year-End Recognition event. • Mentors, what did you hear about the College Bus Trip and the Internship?

7. What’s New This Year • We’ve Moved! • Companies That Care is now located in the West Loop at 954 West Washington Blvd., Suite 430 (corner of Morgan and Washington) • Easy access; Just two blocks South of the Morgan and Lake “El” stop off of the Green and Pink Line • Our number is still the same: 312-661-1010

8. New Staff Currently Interviewing! AIM High Program Associate Primary contact for: Students Families Mentors Organizes Touchpoint events Plans and leads After-School Leadership Institute Rozjolei Jackson AIM High Alumni attending University of Illinois AIM High college advisor and coach Holds monthly webinars with AIM High students in college Stays in touch with students individually Tanika Richardson Member of AmeriCorps For Companies That Care Leading literacy initiative-Terrific Tales Leading Invisible Differences initiative Supporting AIM High What’s New This Year firstlast@companies-that-care.org

9. What’s New This Year • MMAHM Update • You spoke, we listened! Detailed version will be sent out once a month on the first Monday (will look like the current MMAHM, overview the next two months) • Weekly brief reminder email to take the place of MMAHM with key important information • If you’re not receiving it, let Syndhia know!!! • Alumni need jobs! • A number of AIM High alumni are home and looking for job. Is there a job opportunity at your organizations that our students can apply for? Please email Syndhia, if you have any information to help our students!

10. What’s New This Year • CLASS OF 2020 • Annually, we expand AIM High by taking on 9th graders from our current partner schools. This year, we plan on taking on 100 new Freshman next January. • May also add new schools this year depending on funding • Therefore, we annually also need new mentors and sponsors • Think about your friends, family members, co-congregants at religious institutions, and business partners • Please contact Syndhia (syndhiajavier@companies-that-care.org )with names of people who might be interested in: • Mentoring a student • Sponsoring a student • Facilitating or recommending a meeting with potential mentors and sponsors • Potential Organizations include: • Employers (For Profit and Non-Profit) • Fraternities/Sororities • Churches/Synagogues/Mosques • Alumni Clubs

11. Kick-Off Event

12. October 4th Kick Off Event - Logistics • Who: Students, Mentors and Parents/Guardians • Where: Roosevelt Univeristy 425 South Wabash Chicago, IL 60603 • When: Thursday, October 4th 5:00PM - 7:30PM • Objectives: • Re-connect and discuss mutual expectations • Set goals for the upcoming year • Continue to engage families • Mentor Mingling • Special Guest and Announcement Thank You Roosevelt! Please register online (link is available in MMAHM)

13. October 4thth Kick Off Event- Logistics (cont’d) • Parking: Both 434 South Wabash and 525 South Wabash Park One locations have a reduced rate of $8 with validation (available at security desk) • Public Transit. Red Line – Jackson subway station Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines –Harold Washington library subway station Blue Line – Jackson subway station,

14. Oct 4th Kick Off Event - What to Expect Remarks from students on summer activities • Review expectations • Attendance and engagement • Year End Recognition awards and other recognition awards students are eligible for throughout year • Goal setting exercises • 10th graders- focusing on grades and homework • 11th graders- grades, homework, ACT Prep and upward trend • 12th graders- college applications check list • Senior specific college training session • Review annual Evaluations from Spring 2012

15. AIM High Mentor Attendance Policy • Context: Hard to order food without knowing how many people to order for • Mentors who confirm their attendance to a Touchpoint event and ultimately do not attend will be charged a $50 fee. • To avoid charges, it is important to register for events and keep us updated if there are any changes. • You can register for events by clicking on the links in the MMAHM

16. Reminder of Mentor Expectations • Training • Touchpoint Event • $50 fine to no-show • Background Checks • Annual Student Engagement Survey • March to College Fundraising

17. Important Upcoming Dates • New Mentor Orientation Webinar Friday,September 28rd at noon • For mentors who have recently joined, New Mentor Orientation is a required first step • Background checks should be completed within the next month • Contains: • Overview of Companies That Care • Why do we need AIM High: The Students’ Reality • AIM High overview • How AIM High works • Learnings and Challenges • Expectations of Mentors • Tips for a Successful Mentoring Relationship • Please follow the link in the MMAHM to register. Note, New Mentor Orientation will not be offered again untilJanuary 11th, 2013.

18. What’s Next? • Register for October 4th Kick-Off Event • Register for New Mentor Orientation – next Friday (September 28th at noon) • Next Mentor Training: Neighborhood Cultural Event and Local College Visit ( October 12th at noon) • REMEMBER: check the Monday Morning AIM High Moment for all things AIM High! • 12th Grade mentors please stay on line for a few more minutes. Questions?

19. Important Items for 12th Grade Mentors • Upcoming College Preparation Tasks for 12th Graders • Identifying List of Colleges • Completing Applications (esp. essays) • Scholarship Search • FAFSA Workshops • Keeping Track of Deadlines • Each student should still have their “Internship and College Prep Workbook” as a reference guide • Your Role • Writing recommendation for your student and sending it to us (syndhiajavier@companies-that-care.org) by October 15th (the earlier the better, but okay to wait until after you see your student on October 4th) • Helping students: • Brainstorm and revise essays for college applications • Stay on top of deadlines for applications and financial aid • Encourage and check up on scholarship search • Attend FAFSA workshops with students and parents • Winter Break Internships • Taking on a new freshman, mentoring into the college years

20. Questions? • Email: syndhiajavier@companies-that-care.org • Phone: 312-661-1010 Thanks for your time! We’re looking forward to a great year with you and our AIM High Students!