Flex Mentoring Program

Flex Mentoring: Empowering Student Choice Through Enriching Activities

Flex Mentoring at The Summit School is a student-centered block of time built into the school day that promotes creativity, connection, and choice. While structured enough to support school-wide consistency, Flex is a non-credit-bearing period where students engage in meaningful, fun activities that they choose themselves.

What Is Flex Mentoring?

Flex Mentoring is designed to give students a voice in their day by offering them the freedom to participate in activities they’re genuinely excited about. These sessions are led by teachers—not in their usual academic roles, but as mentors and facilitators of unique, engaging experiences.

Unlike traditional academic classes, Flex Mentoring sessions are informal, interest-based, and focused on relationship building. They provide a break from core instruction while supporting social-emotional growth, creativity, and real-world skill development.

Examples of Flex Activities

Flex Mentoring offers a wide range of experiences not typically found during a standard school schedule. Popular examples include:

• Jewelry making

• Video game sessions with teachers

• Cooking and baking

• Outdoor sports and games

• Trivia and team-based challenges

• Heavy metal music appreciation

• Unplugged tech-free activities

• Crocheting and knitting

• Fingerboarding and tech deck ramp creation

These activities are not only fun—they often align with therapeutic or educational goals, like improving fine motor skills or encouraging positive peer interaction.

Why Flex Mentoring Matters

• Student Empowerment: By choosing their own activities, students feel heard and valued.

• Teacher-Student Relationships: Flex allows teachers and students to connect outside of traditional classroom roles, often forming stronger, more personal bonds.

• Increased Engagement: Students are more likely to feel invested in their school community when they have a say in how they spend part of their day.

• Hidden Learning Opportunities: Many Flex activities naturally support cognitive, social, or emotional development—even when students don’t realize it.

Real-Life Impact

One student who regularly participates in the crocheting Flex group also receives occupational therapy—but during Flex, he’s naturally building those same skills through something he enjoys. Another group of students has turned a simple “unplugged” session into a full-blown mini skatepark project using tech decks and handmade ramps.

Building Community Through Flex

Flex Mentoring is more than an activity block—it’s a community-building initiative. Whether it’s a student joining a music discussion group or bonding over a shared love for trivia, each Flex session opens the door to new conversations, stronger relationships, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Even students and teachers who don’t share academic classes are getting to know one another, creating a more unified school environment. For those who do share classes, Flex offers a refreshing new dynamic that helps redefine roles and foster mutual respect.