Classical COACH Kids Learn Vocat

LYNN - When structural damage at Classical High School forced freshmen out of the building and into the Fecteau-Leary School on North Common Street two years ago, faculty and administration were concerned at how the move would affect academics and behavior among students.

Now as the school's second and largest class of ninth-graders rounds the corner and heads for the home stretch this year, staff at the Classical Freshman Academy, as it is now known, are boasting several areas of success and are hoping that the academy will continue to exist in some form when freshmen return to the main building next fall.

From the bi-weekly morning newscasts to the contests and projects inspiring students in all classroom subjects, the academy has by all accounts succeeded in its goal - to provide a safe, academically thriving school that isn't too disconnected with the main building across town.

"(Classical Principal Warren White) made it a point that it is not a student or their family's fault that they have been dislodged to another building," said Academy Principal Judith Taylor. "These students have the same electives and honors classes that are offered at the other building and they are given the same opportunities."

But it is not the equal programs or the connection with O'Callaghan Way that has necessarily made the school so successful. For Taylor, it is following a freshman academy model that works and having a caring, disciplined staff to work with the students to help them improve.

With dropout rates and behavioral problems typically higher among high school freshman, and growing class sizes at larger schools preventing the personalized help that some students need, Taylor says one of the best results to come from the academy is an ability to set students on the right track before it is too late.

"Ninth grade is such a pivotal year - the transition to high school is tough and the students have a lot of adolescent issues," she said. "Freshman year is the highest year for dropouts, it is about keeping them in school and making it work for them. If you walk around the halls you would have no idea that there are 300-plus students working hard in here. There is less disruption in the corridors, there is no interaction with older students they may not be used to yet and they are able to form relationships with the teachers."

While helping every student individually is important, the academy model has especially helped high-risk students who are at risk for dropout or failure because teachers can provide extra attention.

"This is a comforting place for students," Taylor said. "You can bump into a teacher in the hall and they will know your name and ask how your mom is doing. Multiple teachers will stay for extra help. We also just had 14 kids sign up to be tutors."

Along with academic success, students are also getting in less trouble. Taylor says suspensions and detentions are way down at the academy, and attendance is at an all-time high, as on most days, only one or two students miss school.

Students at the academy are encouraged to enjoy school in many different ways. In Edward Palmeira's geometry class, a project which involved designing soccer balls had students so interested that he was having students show up early to class and stay late at the end of the day. Some students were so into their work before school that he says he even had to remind them that they are still kids and it is OK to socialize with one another in their free time.

Other students can be inspired through assemblies, such as the motivational speaker that Taylor brings in each year in an effort to inspire some students who aren't necessarily enthralled with the classroom.

"You never know who you are hitting," she said. "But that is your goal. If you don't try to reach every student in some way, you are not doing your job. They might as well throw away the paycheck."

Taylor and White are hoping to continue the success and positive energy when the freshman come back to O'Callaghan Way in September by forming a new academy at the school.

The plan is still in its infant stages, but Taylor - who isn't sure if she will run the academy next year or not - says she has been researching other academy models from across the country and will report back to White with new ideas.

"Mr. White is planning to form a freshman academy at Classical next year with our own floor and our own teachers," she said. "We would like to carry this through."

LYNN - As the holidays approach there are many food and clothing drives taking place across the city, but the effort at Lynn Classical's Freshman Academy is unique because of who is organizing and carrying out the effort.

The Freshman Academy on North Common Street is home to the city's high school COACH program for severely autistic students. Although there are only three students enrolled in the program, they have succeeded in collecting more than 750 cans of food since Oct. 27, and expect even more donations before Monday's deadline.

The cans will be donated to the Tree of Life Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church, where the three students will also begin volunteering for the holiday season.

The food drive has been an entirely internal operation at the Freshman Academy, as students were encouraged to bring in canned food to homeroom every day. The COACH program students collect and count the donations every Friday, and have promised a pizza party for the classroom that brings in the most in donations.

"We have brought in over 750 cans, the kids have really done an amazing job with this," said COACH teacher Erin Coburn. "I think the kids are really enjoying the competition."

The collection effort is just the beginning of the charity work for the COACH students, who will begin volunteering at the food pantry in December.

The partnership is a way for the food pantry to receive help around the holiday season and a way for the COACH students to get out into a real-world environment and learn some vocational skills.

"It is really a great way for them to learn direction and vocational skills, because they are at high school age now but they stay with the program until they are 22," said Coburn. "The food pantry welcomed them in on Fridays where they will build boxes, stock shelves and help with the food."

Coburn said the MBTA has even donated $150 in Charlie Cards to the program so the students can take the bus from school to the food pantry and learn how to use public transportation.

For the program, in its second year, it is another step in educating the autistic children for life in the real world while helping out the community at the same time.

"Ms. Coburn and this program continue to amaze me," said Freshman Academy Principal Judith Taylor. "She is everything you could want in a teacher for these children, she is compassionate and patient and the students respond accordingly."