When Charis Pankratz, mentoring and education director with CrossNet Ministries, finished revamping the Cross Jr. program, changing it from a group activity program into an intentional one-on-one mentoring meetup, for the fall 2019 semester, she was excited to move forward. Fortunately, the advent of COVID-19 restrictions did not dampen her enthusiasm.

"We did complete that year of programming," said Pankratz, who wrapped up the program in a virtual format in the spring of 2020. "We had eight students at each elementary school, so a total of 16 kids completed (Cross Jr.), and we had some closure."

When Pankratz learned that outside volunteers would not be allowed on ELANCO School District (ESD) premises in the fall of 2020, she knew that change would affect Cross Jr. "The whole essence (of Cross Jr.) was that the mentors meet with students and me at the school, which had eliminated the transportation barriers," noted Pankratz, who spent the fall semester remodeling the program to fit COVID-19 ESD policy restrictions.

The result is a pilot program for five students in fourth and fifth grades and their mentors that started the week of Feb. 1 and will be held through the week of Monday, April 19. Mentors and students will meet at two locations. Those who live outside New Holland and wish to meet on Tuesdays after school may utilize the lobby of Pine Grove Church in Bowmansville. Mentors and mentees in the New Holland area may meet at the CrossNet Youth Center on Thursday afternoons. CrossNet protocol for masks and social distancing will be followed.

"Our goal is to provide a safe space for under-resourced (students) in ESD to connect with a positive adult and, through that relationship and the Cross Jr. (curriculum), be able to increase their self-confidence, their growth mindset, their self-efficacy, (so they) benefit from this relationship," shared Pankratz, who adjusted the program to meet that goal safely. "I essentially put into a box all the materials a mentor would need each week to run the session by themselves with their student," she explained. "I have created a handbook, and I have written out each lesson with an opening ice breaker or activity and the content the mentor is to go over. I have provided the questions to ask, and I also encouraged them to do reflection time at the end of the session."

Looking ahead, Pankratz would like to see volunteers step up to help with the program. "I want the community to know this is an option for service if they are interested in getting to know an elementary student," she said. Pankratz is prepared for whatever the next semester may bring. "(In the fall), we will continue with the (program) we're doing now, where the mentor and student meet at approved locations, or if we can go back to meeting at the schools, we would love to do that," she stated.

Individuals wishing to volunteer may contact Pankratz by emailing charis@elancocross.org or calling 717-355-2454.