MASA Feature www.gomasa.org 25 In May 2014, prior to the end of last school year, we received a phone call from a mother who expressed a desire to retain her son in the eighth grade. She was extremely skeptical that her son was ready to make the jump from middle to high school, and she was right. Academically, he probably was not ready. This boy needed a solid transition from the eighth to ninth grade that was not offered at Plainwell High School (PHS). At that moment, an idea was born. In our counseling meetings, we talked about the need to get away from our traditional virtual summer school for eighth-grade students, which led to more conversations with a retiring teacher, who shared her daughter’s experience at Central Michigan University’s Leadership Safari (www.cmich.edu/ess/ResLife/LeadershipSafari/ Pages/default.aspx). The idea sparked by our conversation with a student’s mother began to take on more shape. There had to be a better way to ease the transition to high school for our students. PHS is not alone. Across the nation, high schools are facing a common concern of providing incoming ninth grade students with a successful transition to high school. The first year of high school is tough, and often one that can make or break a student. According to Allensworth and Easton (2007), freshman performance does matter. Plainwell High School’s First Champions By Dr. Jeremy Wright Professional Development Management System (PDMS) KALPA’s PDMS is easy to use, affordable and it works!!! Teacher professional development tracking solution for: New Teacher Hours (380.1526) Annual Professional Development (380.1527) District Provided PD (DPPD) for Certificate Renewal Registry of Education Personnel (REP) Reporting (Field 24) Teacher Certifications and Renewals Salary Advancement Mentoring Time Call today for more information and to schedule a demonstration Phone: 248-273-1955 Or visit www.KALPAsystems.com
MASA Leader - Sprin 2016
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