COEUR d'ALENE ­— Confidence is a cornerstone when it comes to building strong foundations in mathematics.

For elementary students facing challenges in math, older students who tutor through the Mathletes program are more than happy to help their younger counterparts overcome barriers to academic success.

"I like being able to teach and change people's lives," Fernan STEM Academy fourth-grade mentor Lily Black shared in a survey response after last session.

Monday was the first official day of the new Mathletes session. Student mentors at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities used dice and cards as learning tools to make concepts a little clearer for their mentees.

"The Mathletes program began as a grassroots initiative and experiment," said Sorensen Principal Brett DePew. "It not only provides peer mentoring and math supports for students, but also ... instills leadership skill sets to those students who are willing to give their time to work as math mentors alongside our math students. This is a prime example of how passionate community members, teachers and students who saw the challenges struggling math students face were compelled to get involved around a cause they're passionate about."

Mathletes is a free program of Growing the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), a local nonprofit started by Coeur d'Alene High School student Lilian Smith and her little sister, Adeline, who both wanted to share their love of math with more students in the community.

Mathletes pairs third- through fifth-graders who love math and are positive role models with first- through third-graders who need math assistance as they engage in math activities and games that are beneficial to both students. The sessions are 45 minutes a week and run for seven to eight weeks, including one training session for mentors, who are nominated by teachers and enrolled with parent permission. Mentors are chosen based on applications and teacher recommendation.

Now in its third year, this before- and after-school program, which began at Sorensen, has expanded to eight schools thanks to funding from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the Idaho Future Fund of the Idaho Community Foundation.

"There are now several paid teachers and dozens of students leading the Mathletes movement throughout our school district," DePew said. "Pretty cool."

Sorensen teacher Charlene Babb, who helped design and develop the program, said when she was first approached about having Mathletes at her school, she was excited for kids who love math to have the opportunity to share that enthusiasm with others who need encouragement in that subject.

"I like that all the students involved get to form relationships that are built on trust and a common interest," she said.

The Growing the STEM Trivia Night: Battle for the Schools will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Capone's on the Green at Ponderosa Golf Course, 1291 N. Galena Drive, Coeur d'Alene. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at trivianight2.brownpapertickets.com or at www.growingthestem.org.

Proceeds will benefit Growing the STEM and its programs including Mathletes, Math is Cool and STEM clubs in Coeur d'Alene schools. Funds that support Growing the STEM pay for materials and training for teachers and keep programming free for participants.

Info: www.growingthestem.org