Hello Kris,

I am grateful to have you as my graduation coach because you are a very positive and understanding person. I feel like you're a little ray of sunshine and you have definitely cheered me up in times where I've really needed it. You give great advice and make our meetings feel like a safe space.

~ YPIE Scholar 2028

As I continue to work with you my security and confidence grows. You make this process a lot easier and I love your passion to help me. I appreciate you so much and I don’t say it enough.

~ YPIE Fellow 2028

I can’t believe it is already December! These first few months of the school year have been filled with volunteer activity, from resuming existing relationships after the summer break, guiding students writing their college application essays, matching new Graduation Coaches with Scholars, tutoring in the College Zone, interviewing a new cohort of 9th grade Scholars, and volunteer workshops, meetups, and in-person events. I am so grateful for all the ways that you show up to support our students and each other!

Please join us for a YPIE Volunteer Coffee Klatch on Wednesday, December 6th from 10:00-11:30am at Riverfront Library (1 Larkin Center, Yonkers). Similar to our virtual Coach Meetups, this gathering will give volunteers the opportunity to build community through sharing challenges, best practices, and personal experiences. Please submit this RSVP form to let us know if you plan to attend and you have not already submitted the form.

Our next workshop will focus on Honoring Youth Voice and Building Power. The dates, times, and Zoom link are listed below - I hope to see you at one of the three sessions. The presentation for last month’s workshop on Attunement in Mentoring is linked at the end of this message.

Finally, if you are meeting a student at one of the high schools, please follow the YPIE Volunteer School Visit Policy. If you are meeting a student at the YPIE College Zone, please email me the date and time.

May the new year bring you and those you love good health, grand adventures, and an abundance of love, and may there be peace on Earth.

Thank you!

Stacy Winitt

Senior Director, Volunteer Engagement



UPCOMING EVENTS

Volunteer Event - Coffee Klatch at Riverfront Library

• December 6th from 10:00am - 11:30am
• Please submit this RSVP form to let let us know if you plan to attend and you have not already submitted the form.

Honoring Youth Voice and Building Power Workshop via Zoom

• December 8th from 10:00am-11:00am OR
• December 13th from 6:00pm-7:00pm OR
• December 14th from 2:00pm-3:00pm
• Open to all volunteers; based on Chapter 8 of Becoming a Better Mentor

January will be filled with workshops and trainings - please see the YPIE Volunteer calendar at ypie.org/ypievolunteer



STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

1-ON-1 TUTORING AVAILABLE!

We have a cohort of volunteers who provide 1-on-1 tutoring in the College Zone after school Monday through Thursday. If your Scholar is struggling with any academic subject (especially math and science), and can commit to attending tutoring sessions in person at the College Zone, please have them complete the YPIE Tutoring Request Form.

STUDENT HOLIDAY PARTY

The YPIE Scholars Holiday Party will be held in the College Zone on December 21st from 3:30-5:30pm.  Please encourage your Scholars to attend! 🎉

VOLUNTEER NEWS

FAFSA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was revised this year and will open at the end of this month.  We will train volunteers to help families complete the FAFSA, with events taking place at YPIE and various high schools.  Please email me if you want to become a FAFSA volunteer and I'll share the training dates once they are set.

ROBOTICS HELP NEEDED

If you have experience with robotics (or know someone who does) and would be willing to help the YPIE Robotics Team, please reach out to me. Robotics is one of our new Majors this year and we are excited to have NASA funding to support our FIRST Robotics Competition team this year!

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORS NEEDED: November through June

We are seeking after school science tutors (mainly biology and chemistry) to work 1-on-1 with students in the College Zone. The days are flexible (Monday-Thursday) and the times would be in the range of 3:30pm-5:30pm. If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please email me.

FIELD TRIPS WITH STUDENTS

Volunteers are permitted to take field trips with their students provided that they arrive separately at the destination or use public transportation. Volunteers should never transport students in their personal vehicles. If you wish to take a field trip, please fill out this YPIE Coach Permission Slip, have your Scholar’s parents/guardians sign it, and keep the signed copy. Please take selfies of you and your Scholar enjoying your adventures and send them to me!

SCHOOL VISITS

Essay Coaches and Graduation Coaches can meet with students at school during their lunch/free periods. Please read and adhere to the YPIE Volunteer School Visit Policy, schedule your visits on days when YPIE staff will be at the schools, and email them in advance to let them know your plans.

Graduation Coaches should email Readiness Managers and Essay Coaches should email College Advisors about student meetings. Please note that “alternating Fridays” means either the RM or the CA will be at the school (not both), so please email both YPIE staff members if you are planning a visit on a Friday.

• CSEE - Monday through Friday (Room 107)
• College Advisors: Aldina Kennedy (akennedy@ypie.org) and Rosanne Aresty (raresty@ypie.org)

• Lincoln - Mondays and Tuesdays; alternating Fridays (Room 221)
• Gorton - Wednesdays and Thursdays; alternating Fridays (Room 106A)
• Readiness Manager: Emily Latainer (elatainer@ypie.org)
• College Advisor: Cindy Zarzuela (czarzuela@ypie.org)

• YMA - Mondays and Tuesdays; alternating Fridays (Library)
• Obama - Wednesdays, Thursdays, alternating Fridays (Library)
• Readiness Manager: Daria Lee (dlee@ypie.org)
• College Advisor: Shaina Zarzuela (szarzuela@ypie.org) 

• Riverside - Mondays and Tuesdays; alternating Fridays (Room 126D)
• Roosevelt - Wednesdays and Thursdays; alternating Fridays (Room 104)
• Readiness Manager: Jose Nuñez (jnunez@ypie.org) 
• College Advisor: Ashley Polanco (apolanco@ypie.org)

• Saunders - Monday through Friday (Room 225)
• Readiness Manager: Kiarra Christian (kchristian@ypie.org)
• College Advisor: Alexa Dalbis (adalbis@ypie.org) 

• YHS - Monday through Friday (Library)
• Readiness Managers: Brianna Cotza (bcotza@ypie.org) and Jake Schofield (jschofield@ypie.org)
• College Advisors: Olga Murphy (omurphy@ypie.org) and Amy Gutenplan (agutenplan@ypie.org) 



VOLUNTEER REMINDERS

GRADUATION COACH REMINDERS

Please reach out to me if you have experienced any difficulty in maintaining continual contact with your Scholar.  You should be meeting at least once every 3 weeks. Please submit an Exit Ticket for each Scholar meeting.

• A meeting is defined as taking place in-person or via phone/video call. Text messages and emails do not count as meetings.
• Try using the Mood Meter at the start of your meetings as a routine way to check-in with each other.



ESSAY COACH REMINDERS

We are nearing the end of the Essay Writing Fall Season!  A few reminders:

• Update the Fall Milestone Tracker regularly to track your student’s progress.  If you are having difficulty maintaining consistent contact with your student, please let me know.
• Once your Team Captain has signed off on the final draft, please send a copy to me (that is the final milestone on the tracker).

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

Attunement in Mentoring Presentation (Nov 2023)

Listening, Connecting, and Mentoring Presentation (Sept/Oct 2023)

Volunteer Kickoff Event presentation (September 19, 2023)

Becoming a Better Mentor (full 135-page guidebook)

Previous Newsletters: November 2023, October 2023, September 2023

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! 😃