Grad Track Spotlight: BASA Buddies

Graduation Specialists at all three Barrow County School System high schools are proud to be part of the creation and implementation of student mentor clubs that pair responsible seniors with chosen freshman. The student mentor clubs provide support, encouragement, and promote confidence-building for select freshmen during that pivotal first year of high school. Counselors and teachers recommend the students who participate.

Barrow Arts and Sciences Academy Graduation Specialist, Amber Hagy, facilitates the student mentor group, BASA Buddies. The BASA Buddies Peer Mentoring Club is made up of 27 seniors from BASA’s first graduating class of 2023. These seniors have made a commitment to be an encouraging friend to their assigned buddy and are available to them throughout the week if they have questions or concerns about school or life. These buddies can be found giving sound advice and helping freshmen navigate the first year of high school. They often answer questions and guide them when they need help or support from adults within our school.

The BASA Buddies Peer Mentoring Club meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month as the school calendar allows. Time is spent building relationships and discussing topics to help students with areas such as organization, communication, and respect. While some meetings are spent on discussions, other meetings allow the buddies to bond by playing board games or other activities that build relationships.

Mrs. Hagy is very proud of her seniors and the 32 freshmen they mentor, support, and encourage. The photos below capture some of the fun BASA Buddies' events, including representation in our Club Fair at the beginning of the year.

We are proud of our student mentor groups and how they help students stay on the “Grad Track.” A Grad Track student has either failed one or more academic classes and/or is behind in credits needed for graduation with their cohort class. Graduation Specialists at all three Barrow County School System (BCSS) high schools support students who meet these qualifications.