ACADEMYSCHOOL2008

LYNN - It was a blessing in disguise for Classical High School. Amidst the stress of undertaking a multi-million dollar renovation project and the uncertainty of displacing students to a new building, the Classical Freshman Academy emerged as a strong, successful pilot program putting ninth graders on the right track toward success.

As construction on the school's academic and administrative wings winds down this summer, Classical administrators are setting the groundwork for a new kind of academy, back in the main building with the other three grades, but still isolated enough to be effective.

"It is going to be quite different than the traditional academy model because it is going to be back in our main building," said Gene Constantino, who will take over for retiring Principal Warren White Sept. 1. "We are going to try and house the freshmen in one part of the building and designate a guidance councilor to oversee the program."

Freshmen were first forced out of Classical High School when construction on the building's sinking support slab began in 2007, taking up shop at Classical's old location, now the Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior High School located on North Common Street.

School administrators were initially nervous about the prospect of having a divided school, but the freshman academy soon proved more successful than anyone imagined with students thriving in the highly motivated and disciplined environment.

Freshman academies are becoming a popular trend at many high schools across the country, in part because of the challenges of transitioning students from middle to high school.

Already at an awkward age, going to a high school that is much larger than students are used to and roaming the halls with upperclassmen can be intimidating and oftentimes grades and discipline suffer.

"Ninth grade is a key year to kind of get kids up to that next level," said Constantino. "That is why we designated a guidance councilor to oversee them, to help make sure that it is a smooth transition."

Constantino said the councilor in charge will likely be Judith Taylor, who has served as principal of the academy throughout its time on North Common Street. Constantino said her role will be slightly different now that the students will be at the new school, focusing less on discipline, staffing and scheduling, and more on the needs of each individual student as they make that transition to high school.

"The vice principal will handle suspensions and discipline and the councilor will return to a more traditional role, but focus on the freshmen rather than having to worry about colleges and grade point averages and things like that like they do with juniors and seniors," said Constantino. "It will be more about attendance, trying to keep the kids in school, talking about implementing strategies for the kids with teachers, helping kids with the issues they may have."

Unlike most high schools, Constantino said the teachers will be the ones traveling from classroom to classroom in the academy, so that the students can remain in their isolated wing of the building.

Constantino stressed that the academy model will be a one-year experiment to start and he hopes to learn more about what other high schools are doing in the way of freshman models and apply those ideas to Classical.

"This is something that is starting to pop up at a lot of schools," he said. "I am hoping to find out what these other models do that is successful and hopefully bring some of those ideas here."

Although he is working through the summer with White, Constantino does not officially take over until Sept. 1, at which point he will establish his administrative staff. In addition to Richard Sackowich, the school is funded for a vice principal position that Constantino vacated when he was promoted to principal. He said the department is accepting applications for that position now and he will make a decision on his staff in September.

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