Peer Connectors Meet, Prep for Meeting With Freshmen

by Morgan Arlick, SSLI ‘18

Today, the senior Peer Connectors met with Peer Connector Club Advisor and Director of Guidance Ms. Bonnie Cahn to learn about the discussion topics for their third meeting with the freshmen. The seniors plan to talk with their respective freshmen groups about nonverbal communication (such as body language) and the recently released first quarter report cards.

Cahn feels that understanding body language is a useful skill for freshmen to learn. She explained, "It is important to learn to notice your own nonverbal [communication] and to be able to recognize everyone else's, because it isn't words that are the main source of communication, it really is our gestures and eye contact."

Peer Connectors meet in Señora Cahn's office. (Schmitz)

Senior Talia Goldstein enjoys being a Peer Connector. Goldstein feels that "the program has been very successful so far this year." She added, "Peer Connectors have helped freshmen have an easy transition from middle school to high school. I love getting to know the freshmen and being someone they can always talk to." However, Goldstein "wishe[s] that a grade[-wide] meeting could be added to the program, so I could get to know the rest of the freshmen better."

Peer Connector Isaac Bensignor agrees with Goldstein that the Peer Connector program has been successful so far. Bensignor stated, “Senora Cahn has done a great job developing this program nearly over the past twenty years.” Bensignor added, “I can't wait for the rest of the Peer Connector meetings with the freshmen.”

Morgan Arlick is a writer for Paw Print Now, and has been published on the site since December 2015. Morgan is currently in her junior year at the Schechter School of Long Island, and can be reached at the following email address: marlick18@ssdsnassau.org