With the new school year began, three employees of 3M™ Canada Morden enthusiastically went back to class - not as students, but as mentors. The In-School Mentoring Program is an initiative of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morden-Winkler in Manitoba. In-School Mentoring matches an adult volunteer (Mentor) with a child (Mentee) in a school environment. Building a positive, new friendship strengthens a Mentee's self-esteem and school performance. Gillian Kirby, Amanda Unrau, and Sy Koeuth spend an hour each week with their respective Mentees at Maple Leaf School in Morden. "The one on one time that they spent with the children this past year produced some amazing results," says Carol Gavard, Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morden-Winkler. "School staff noticed a tremendous improvement in the children's self-esteem and social skills." The children weren't the only ones to benefit from the program however. "It is such an incredible experience to reconnect with the innocence of childhood," says Kirby "and a smile is really the only reward you need." The Morden trio has been supported fully by their coworkers. "These three employees are deeply involved in this program," says Martin Osso, Morden Plant Manager, "and we see it as a tremendously positive program." As their involvement continues, the 3M Morden participants are hopeful the program will attract more mentors from 3M as well as other companies. In the meantime, Morden employees are becoming accustomed to seeing the signs posted on the Mentors' keyboards for that one hour each week. They read, "Proud to be a Mentor. Gone Mentoring."