Gainesville — Project Turning Point is looking to help launch the new school year with its annual back-to-school rally set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11 at Leonard Park.

“Youth grades K-8 and their families are invited to join us for bounce houses, a free lunch, and free school supply packs. Information about Project Turning Point will be available for all interested families, teachers, administrators or mentors,” PTP Director Maggie Sykes said.

The bounce houses will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and organizers plan to serve lunch at 11:30 a.m. School supplies packs will be distributed to the first 280 students at 1 p.m.

The local school-based mentoring program has been in Cooke County schools for four years.

Sykes said she placed 48 mentors with students last year.

The program reaches students in several Cooke County schools.

“We have a strong presence in the Gainesville school district. We are also in Callisburg, Era and Valley View,” she said.

Project Turning Point is modeled after D. Tony Evans’ Project Turnaround, a mentoring program in Dallas.

Sykes said that organization was designed to provide direction for students, especially young males who were growing up in single-parent households.

“Project Turnaround has reached over 4,000 students now,” she noted.

Project Turning Point mentors are volunteers who are trained and would like to make a difference in the life of a child, she said. All volunteers must also submit to background tests.

Sykes noted that becoming a mentor doesn’t require a lot of time.

“Mentors spend 30 minutes a week during the school day with their mentees. Their time is spent getting to know one another, playing sports, playing games, or learning together. The primary purpose of a mentor is to encourage and (to be) a good listener to his or her student,” she said.

All student/mentor time is spent on school campuses, she added.

“That’s for both the student’s and the mentor’s safety,” she said.

Mentors and students decide how to spend their time together.

“They might throw a football, play cards, read together or just talk. Mentors don’t have to be a tutor for the young man or woman. All we ask is that they be an encourager,” she said.

Mentors remain with a student throughout their years in Cooke County schools so that they remain a constant positive influence in the life of the mentee.

Sykes said Project Turning Point has been a success, but noted that there’s still work to be done.

“Unfortunately, Project Turning Point has not been able to place all the young men requesting mentors with volunteers. There are currently 8 young men on our waiting list ranging in age from first grade to ninth grade,” she said.

Sykes hopes potential mentors, especially men, will consider attending an upcoming training session.

“A lot of young men are being raised by single moms. There is a strong need for young men in this community to (be able) to reach out to male mentors. We hope to encourage men in our community to “man up” and make a difference this year,” she said.

Training for new mentors, male or female, is set for 7 p.m., Sept. 9 and Sept. 21 at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce board room.

For information contact Maggie Sykes at 668-5908 or by email at sykesmaggie@projectturningpoint.org.

Sykes said she mentors two students and would love to see other people step up and become mentors.

She’s seen some great success stories in her four years with Project Turning Point, she said.

“Only 30 minutes a week might keep a young man or young woman from messing up, shooting up or giving up,” she said.