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Youngstown students head to Thiel to learn tools for success
YOUNGSTOWN
A new bridge program will send incoming Chaney and East High ninth-graders to Thiel College in Greenville, Pa.
The program, Bridge to High School to Success Camp, aims to give incoming freshmen the skills and tools they need to succeed during their high-school careers.
“It is designed to help ease the transition to high school,” said Roshay Huff, school district chief deputy of transformation. “We hope to foster some early relationships with the students. The big thing is building relationship that help minimize a lot of problems down the road.”
Eboni Williams, Chaney administrator, said the gap between eighth grade and ninth grade is a big one, where students sometimes get lost in the mix.
“We want them to come out of the gate running,” she said. “This gives us a chance to keep [students] school-minded while giving students an extra level of support. ... We are doing everything we can to ensure success early rather than have to come back and fill in a gap that was missed.”
From Tuesday to next Friday and July 17 to July 20, students will stay in student dorms at Thiel to develop leadership skills and good study habits, to learn how to thrive in high school and to see the importance of being involved in school. Chaney students will be at Thiel next week, and East students the following week.
“This gives [students] the opportunity to sample what a class would be like in college,” Williams said.
Huff said she’s happy to help give students this chance.
“It’s about exposure,” she said. “I didn’t know what the inside of a college classroom looked like until my junior year of high school, and I want more for them.”
Parent Leslie Young said the program is exciting students, especially her daughter Iliana Castro, 14, a Chaney student.
“I love this school, and this is just one more thing to make me love it,” Young said.