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Ninth-graders get an overnight taste of campus lifeFairlead Academy, St. Mary's College become partnersWednesday, June 10, 2009
St. Mary's public school's freshmen Fairlead Academy last week formalized a partnership with St. Mary's College of Maryland. The 58 students in the academy, which started this school year as a place to help stem the dropout rate among struggling students, spent two days and a night at the campus that culminated in an awards ceremony Friday. The hope is by spending time at the campus, the students would see college as a real option for their futures. The Fairlead students were able to play basketball and other sports in the campus' recreation center as well as enjoy time in the swimming pool. They had abbreviated classes in college classrooms. And they spent the night in a dormitory, which was staffed with college resident advisers who spent time talking to students about the importance of education and college life. "It's something that we have to do," Jasmine Johnson, 15, said of graduating high school. Johnson said Friday that her and her peers had a good time at the campus. "We actually did our classes, too," Johnson said. She said she had always thought about going to college, but now that has become a priority in her life. "The science lab was really big … They had all the instruments," Kyona Wright, 15 said. The friends said that they liked the idea of the independence afforded to college students, including picking one's own classes. Wright said her behavior and grades have improved this school year while at Fairlead. "This year I haven't had any referrals. I did way better on my grades," she said. She used to blame her school problems on her teachers, but now she realizes it was because she would not do the work required to succeed. Charlottis Woodley will be the transition coordinator in charge of monitoring the students who come out of Fairlead as they enter Great Mills, Leonardtown or Chopticon and work toward their high school diplomas. "We were able to show the kids that college is attainable," said Fairlead guidance counselor Sara Cooper. The experience can help break down the wall some students face when looking toward college. The statistics so far are promising. The average grade point average for the group of students went from 1.82 to 2.43 from their eighth- to ninth-grade year. Almost all of the 58 students – the academy started with 60 but two moved out of the county – participated in a club or sport at their home high school. Attendance improved from an average of 85 percent in eighth grade to 95 percent this year. And, most importantly, all of the students earned enough credits to be promoted to sophomores. "Fairlead has become a safe harbor for every student enrolled," Superintendent Michael Martirano said. He said the transformation in the students has been amazing. "The ultimate goal is to be successful," in either college or the workplace once graduating high school, he said. St. Mary's College of Maryland President Maggie O'Brien, who signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a partnership between the college and Fairlead Academy, encouraged the students to stay in school and enroll in college, hopefully St. Mary's College. "Think about coming to this college, it's pretty remarkable," she told the students. She said there may be scholarship opportunities specifically for students coming out of Fairlead. Alex Shores, 15, who will go to Leonardtown High School next year as a sophomore said the college overnight was a good experience. "Every year they should do this," Shores said. "Fairlead is about getting you ready for high school. Now I'm not scared, I'm ready," said student Thomas Ford. Shores agreed, saying, "Your fears are gone."
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