January is National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the individuals who choose to invest in others and make a lasting impact. At West Bay Elementary School, mentoring comes to life through an extraordinary group of community partners known as the Memory Makers.
The Memory Makers are residents of Latitude Margaritaville who have “adopted” the students, staff, and families of West Bay Elementary. More than volunteers, they serve as mentors, encouragers, and trusted partners in our shared mission of Putting the ‘A’ Back in Bay. While 240 residents proudly identify as Memory Makers, more than 60 regularly serve on campus, showing up week after week with joyful hearts and helping hands.
Every staff member at West Bay is adopted by a Memory Maker who offers notes of encouragement and thoughtful treats throughout the year. Each January, they also sponsor a New Year celebration, treating teachers to breakfast and small classroom gifts, simple gestures that mean so much. Many classrooms are adopted as well, with Memory Makers celebrating students as they reach academic goals and modeling the power of positive mentorship.
Memory Makers are a familiar and welcome presence across campus. They volunteer in the media center at least twice a week, sorting and shelving books and motivating students to keep reading. They enthusiastically support celebrations for Accelerated Reader milestones, attendance achievements, and positive behavior initiatives, often serving as the creative force behind memorable events.
Their support extends beyond the school day. Memory Makers faithfully assist with family engagement events, including the Sweetheart Family Dance, bingo nights, Winter Wonderland, STEAM nights, and Title I events. They also host the beloved Little Eagles Christmas Party each year, honoring the children of educators who spend countless extra hours serving students. Behind the scenes, they tackle time-consuming tasks like shirt sorting and distribution, saving staff valuable time.
“These volunteers are truly the heart of our campus,” said Bridgett Miller, principal of West Bay Elementary. “They mentor our students, uplift our staff, support our families, and fill needs we didn’t even know we had—all with joy and gratitude.”
This National Mentoring Month, West Bay Elementary proudly celebrates the Memory Makers, proof that mentoring, when rooted in community and compassion, creates lasting memories and meaningful success for all.
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