NIGHT SCHOOL: Program Aids Students

SPRINGDALE HIGH PROVIDES CHANCE TO TAKE CLASSES AFTER HOURS

By Brett Bennett

Posted: November 23, 2009 at 4:06 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — Every now and then, a high school student falls behind on the course credits needed to graduate.

Springdale High School oft ers a program where students can earn some of their credits, and it doesn’t involve going to summer school or transferring to the alternative center.

The student can enroll in night school, a program where classes are taught after regular school hours.

“Night school is a lot more convenient than summer school,” said Jennifer Howard, a junior.

Some of the subjects students can make up include English, math, history and science, program codirectors Fran Flynt and Jean Davis said.

The program is funded by a federal grant that provides $500,000 over five years for night school and other programs, Davis said. This is the second year of the grant.

There is no tuition charge for night school because of the grant, and the school provides bus transportation home.

Night school does require a commitment. Students go to class Monday through Thursday for fi ve weeks.

Davis said they oft er two, fi veweek sessions with three to four classes each session in the fall semester and three sessions in the spring. The second session of the fall semester ended Thursday.

“We had 52 students this session,” Davis said.

With five sessions offered, Springdale High School Assistant Principal John Wesson estimated students will earn about 250 credits through the program by the time the year is over.

Participants cite dift erent reasons for missing a credit. Howard’s need to enroll in night school goes back to earlier mistakes.

“I didn’t take ninth grade that seriously,” she said. Jim Maddison, a junior, added, “They said I missed too many days.”

Several participants said night school’s longer classes provide more opportunities to interact with the teacher. “There’s more time for oneon-one (instruction),” student Aaron Stevens said.

Davis said they try to limit each class in a session to 20 students, while the class size limit during the school day is 30.

Night school begins with a snack time in the cafeteria at 4 p.m. Students are in class for instruction time from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

After class, the students take a break for about a halfhour for an activity. Springdale High School principals take turns overseeing the activity time. Some of the activities have included weightlifting and playing Wii bowling on television screens in the cafeteria. Assistant Principal Marcia Jones also once taught Zumba lessons.

Assistant Principal Pete Joenks said he appreciates the interaction with students during activity time.

“It breaks down that barrier that would normally be put up,” Joenks said.

After the activity time, the students go back to class until the bus leaves at 7 p.m., Davis said.

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hello my name is jessica I live in chickasha oklahoma. and I am falling behind in school and the school is going to hold me back if i dont do anything about it, im 14 years old im in 9th grade thankyou!

Posted by: 1234

February 10, 2010 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )