Transition Program in its Fourth Year in Huntington
A carefully designed program to help J. Taylor Finley Middle School eighth grade students who have failed multiple classes successfully transition into Huntington High School is now in its fourth year. The initiative uses a structured small class environment to develop the academic skills needed to pass required courses.
If the teenagers pass the classes offered through the program and the freshmen level courses they are introduced to, they are on their way to getting back to their grade level by their junior year and can even graduate on time.
“I originally introduced the program at the high school because students who had failed multiple academic courses at Finley continued to fail as ninth graders and ended up repeating that grade,” said Dr. Carmela Leonardi, principal of Huntington High School. “The transition program has not only given students an opportunity to pass courses but also catch up and be able to graduate with their cohort.”
Teachers Lori Pyzocha, Fred Bisogno, Helen Guarino and Mike Graziano implemented the program. Dr. Leonardi said it “has been a success for those students who had developed negative attitudes towards school and school work.”
Students enrolled in the transition program are considered eighth graders. But, they are still provided with an opportunity to earn some high school level credit. The program incorporates study and organizational skills, stresses attendance and helps develop an effective work ethic in participants. A counseling component was added last year.
“Most students, with the exception of those who require additional support services like special education, or English-as-a-Second Language, have a common study hall period,” according to a program brochure. “In this class, students will be provided with support to develop and improve their study skills.”
The program features not only small class sizes but differentiated instruction for students sitting in the same classroom. This has proven effective in developing the basic academic skills participants had been lacking previously.
Ms. Pyzocha said she believes “this program is one that every district should have. The team of teachers communicates on a daily basis to review the progress of each one of the students, which helps ensure their success. We become very passionate about each individual and their success. By the end of the year the team feels like we've formed a new family and both teachers and students continue to communicate even after the students move on the following year, to help foster success among the group.”
The program was developed after high school officials reviewed the transcripts of freshmen who failed multiple classes and discovered that many of the same teenagers had earlier failed courses at the middle school level, continuing a trend of being less than successful.
For more information contact the guidance office at 673-2011.
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