Freshman Academy
Ninth graders are adolescents
undergoing the difficult transition from middle school to high
school. As they face the social, emotional, physical and intellectual
challenges of this stage of their development, it is easy for
them to feel overwhelmed, confused and alone. . . A strong Freshman
Academy serves as a bridge that spans the rough waters of adolescence,
enabling students to cross the threshold into high school and
continue on, better prepared academically and socially for the
rigors of high school and college.
from Ninth Grade Success Academy…
Freshman Academy was implemented at Spaulding High School in the
fall of the 2006-2007 school year. The Academy was designed to
aid students in their transition from middle school to high school
and from 9th grade to 10th grade. Freshman Academy is a student-centered
program that enables teachers to work together in order to help
students learn at high levels and develop into mature, productive,
responsible adults.
In Freshman Academy students and teachers are organized in teams.
Each team is comprised of one English teacher, one science teacher,
and one social studies teacher. A math teacher is housed with
each team; however, a student may not have the team’s math
teacher for his/her math class. Students are assigned to a team
during the scheduling process and take most of their core classes
from the members of this team. Students are out of Academy, however,
for their elective courses. By organizing students this way, we
hope to slowly transition students into their high school careers,
without them getting “lost in the shuffle.”
A Freshman Academy student at Spaulding High School has access
to all the elective, extra-curricular and athletic programs to
which every other student has access. We offer band, chorus, foreign
languages, honors courses and technical courses.
Freshman Academy at Spaulding High School provides a wonderful
opportunity for students to transition from middle school to high
school in a safe environment where teachers are concerned about
their academic and social success. We understand that many students
need support in this process and the Academy is designed to provide
that support.
Freshman Forum - The Freshman Academy Newletter
