Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.

Summer program readies Agawam students for high school

Date: 8/2/2023

AGAWAM — Some Agawam eighth graders got the opportunity to experience a different type of summer program this year to prepare them for their transition to high school.

The four-week program — a mix between summer camp and summer school — combined academics with hands-on learning experiences and even some excursions.

The summer pilot program was funded by a $33,000 grant from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under its Mass Grad dropout prevention program. While that program focuses on retention and enrichment of students headed into ninth grade, AHS expanded it to get eighth graders interested in high school and what it has to offer them.

AHS Principal Jim Blain wrote the grant proposal with Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Salomao, who oversees curriculum and instruction. He said an increasing number of eighth graders are in danger of dropping out because of “severe academic deficits,” such as being unprepared to enter high school or lacking literacy, numeracy, and other academic skills.

“Although we originally thought it would be just an eighth-to-ninth grade program, we extended the opportunity to a few ninth-to-10th grade students,” said Blain. The program balanced academic support in math, science and English language arts along with team building and social emotional learning.

There were 24 students who attended the structured program that began July 10 and ends Aug. 3, running Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. High school staff used junior high school data to identify students who had excessive absences, failing grades or needed extra support academically, socially or emotionally.

For students entering high school for the first time, this summer enrichment program provided a bridge from junior high school to the more complex, and less nurturing, high school environment.

“It also gave students at risk for dropping out some tools and support to be successful,” said Blain.

 Nicolas Tassone, 14, who was having problems with math in eighth grade, said the program helped him become familiar with the ninth grade math curriculum.

“It gave me the extra help I needed and gave me a head start on other things for September. I’ll already be a little bit familiar with what my teachers will be teaching me and what high school will be like — I won’t feel as nervous,” he said.

Unlike Tassone, Leah Rivera, 15, already has had a year of high school under her belt. She said the program was a “quick refresher” before starting 10th grade.

“They made learning fun — instead of just a list of math problems on a sheet of paper, we used games to help us learn math,” she said.

Rivera said the program gave her a new perspective on school, too: “I now realize that education is important and that it doesn’t have to be boring. I also discovered that one of my problems — which almost caused me to quit school — was that I’m a procrastinator. I’d end up doing all my work towards the end of the year. That made it much harder for me, so I’m going to try not to do that anymore.”

Six teachers and a guidance counselor ran the program. Three teachers also served as program coordinators. English teacher Sable Johnson, one of the coordinators, said from a teacher’s perspective, more and more students are coming to high school in need of extra support.

“That’s unfortunate, because everything gets more challenging at the high school level,” she said. “Classes are harder and faster paced, there’s more to navigate socially and there’s suddenly pressure to know what you want to be as an adult. It’s a lot to handle.”

She said a big reason eighth graders drop out before starting high school is that they’ve fallen behind and can’t seem to catch up, usually due to excessive absenteeism.

“Reasons for not coming to school vary — from feeling overwhelmed, social anxiety or medical issues,” said Johnson. “When they’re absent, their missed work piles up and they get caught in a vicious cycle and feel like failures. Those issues may manifest themselves even more at the high school level.” 

The enrichment program engaged students in different ways beyond the classroom. They learned about physical science with Mad Science — a local program that reignites the magic of science — and took a guided nature hike with Nancy Bobskill, a former AHS science teacher.

Rising ninth graders also heard from an alumni panel who answered questions about everything from cafeteria food to how they knew what they wanted to study in college.

“It’s important students see other young people who have ‘made it through’ and can give them advice they wished they had received as freshman,” said Johnson.

She said the success of the program won’t be measured in terms of academics but in the relationships made between students and faculty in the summer program.

“If you have an adult who cares about you, an adult who you trust, you will be more likely to come to school. If you come to school and feel supported, you will do well. If you do well, you will continue to come to school and do even better,” said Johnson.

“These kids weren’t going to improve their grammar or math skills in four weeks. What we tried to do was show them that school can be enjoyable, not intimidating. They learned school can be a safe place and that there are adults who want to see them succeed,” she said.

Other teachers working with Johnson included Kathryn Procter (math, co-coordinator), Jennifer Benjamin (science, co-coordinator), Francesca Della Bella (English), John Benjamin (math), Jenna Gamellis (science) and Shawn Tatro (guidance counselor).

 Johnson said it’s time to move away from intimidating ninth graders with a stereotypical version of high school that’s overwhelming and imposing — or worse, boring.

“They should feel welcomed, valued and even excited,” she said. “As a teacher it’s exciting to me that as a district we are moving further into experiential learning at the high school. This summer program offered extra support to our more reluctant learners and hopefully has made them excited again about learning.”