The very first graduating class of Berlin’s “School within a School” program saw a 100-percent success rate with all 13 students receiving a high school diploma.
On June 24, Berlin High School Principal Dr. Catherine Allain provided students with yellow honor cords to wear at graduation, normally reserved for honors students.
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“I believe you’re all honors students because you’ve really done four years of work in three years and that’s an amazing accomplishment,” she said to the students.
Two years ago, the program was formed to help select students get back on track to graduate on time. These students joined the program as sophomores. Students took their core subject courses including English, Math and Social Studies within one classroom. For Science, the same small group of students was taught in a Science lab. For all other courses – such as Physical Education and Art – they assimilated with their peers.
The smaller class size and increased support in the classroom cuts down on distractions, and for “reluctant learners” this can make a world of difference in decreasing their absenteeism, and raising their grades and confidence.
Although the structure of the courses are modified whereby students complete the majority of their work while in the classroom, the academic rigor of a traditional classroom is maintained for these Regents-bearing courses.
“It means a lot to them because they earned it themselves; we didn’t do it for them,” said program coordinator and teacher Lou Amendolara. “They all feel successful and many are going on to college and other things. This is an example of how good the program can be!”
“Some of these students may not have graduated without the individual attention they received from the program; that says a lot,” said Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young. “Together as a group they made it through; we’re very proud.”
The students graduated with the entire Berlin High School Class of 2015 on June 26. [/private]