Fewer F’s, less disciplinary action and better attendance are measures pointing to the success of the Turners Falls High School “Freshman Academy” initiative.

This team approach to working with ninth graders is now in its second year of implementation at the Turners Falls High School.  Developed and driven by Jeffrey Kenney the schools Principal, the program has set out to create a smooth transition from the middle school to high school, with a lot of safety nets.  “I’m a middle school person, 23 years of teaching, 5 years as a principal and the teaming concept in middle school is invaluable.  We’ve taken the best things from that model and we’ve applied it at the high school level,” said Kenney.

Freshman year is often a trying time for many young people.  The transition from middle school to high school can be very traumatic for some teens.  The art of meeting new friends, navigating unknown territory and new teachers with new academic standards can seem overwhelming. 

With current studies showing a direct link between a student’s ninth grade success and their graduation probability, it’s imperative for high schools to offer nurturing learning environments.  “One of the things we know from the research is that students who aren’t successful their freshman year are at risk”, said Kenney. 

What sets the academy apart from any other ninth grade is that each student is guided through the year by a team of teachers, all working together to make sure that no students fall through the cracks.  The team is made up of professionals from each of the core disciplines, math, science, history and English, and is joined by a guidance counselor and a special education teacher that round out the group.

This team of teachers meets twice weekly to discuss curriculum and students.  Any difficulties a child has can be addressed immediately and supportively this way.  In addition they do all of their parent conferencing as a team.   “Historically you’d get a list of teachers and go around from room to room to room.  We have one stop shopping, so they can meet all the teachers at once,” said Robert Perlman, the Team Leader and Chair of the Science Department.

“Between us we teach every freshman.  So at any one point in time one of us has them” said Perlman.  The team is constantly monitoring students for subtle changes that may indicate a problem.  They take into account, grades, disciplinary actions and absenteeism so when a red flag goes up they are aware.  “It’s all individualized to the kid.  We try to talk to them and say, What can we do to help you?  Then we talk to the parents and ask What’s going on?”

This type of intervention prior to Freshman Academy would have taken longer or not taken place at all.  Problem solving happens far quicker due to the models centralized communication.  “We have systems in place to bring all the players together to see if it can be addressed,” said Sharon Boron the freshman guidance counselor.  “There is also a mediation program in the school if there are conflicts, kids can sit down and work the issue out so it doesn’t effect their education.”

This group of teachers looks at each other as a resource.  They also speak of the camaraderie between them that may not have developed without the intimate workings of the Freshman Academy model.  “We rely on each other for support,” said Perlman.

The team faces a large array of stumbling blocks that go along with working with young teens.  They identified technology as a main problem area and spoke of students’ texting at all hours of the night and not getting enough rest.  And unlike in years past the student body is very fluid.  Students move in and out of the district throughout the year.  “The number in September is not the number after the holidays,” added Perlman.

“We need to be in a constant state of reflection of what’s working and evaluation.  And given that each class has its own personalities, we have to adapt our strategies and interventions each year,” reflected Shaun Ashworth who makes up the teams History component.

With this in mind the group is looking to the future of Freshman Academy and how to build on its successes.  On the agenda for improvements for next year is, seeking grants to fund trips to the 5 Colleges, identifying how to better communicate with parents, earlier education of 8th graders and their parents about Freshman Academy and the possibility of building a Freshman Academy website.