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Tracee
Render, 17, a student in the Winton Woods School District’s
Project success gets a hug from English teacher Diane McGowan, as
they view a congratulatory cake during a party at the school.
(Gary Landers/The
Cincinnati Enquirer)
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Cheryl
Spurlock, 17, a student in the Winton Woods School District’s
Project success does her schoolwork on a computer at the school.
(Gary Landers/The
Cincinnati Enquirer)
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Larry
Day, left, coordinator for the Winton Woods School District’s
Project success, serves treats to students Nick Molony, 16, Tracee
Render, 17, and Dannie Smith, 17, during a party.
(Gary Landers/The
Cincinnati Enquirer)
|
They were the troublemakers at other schools, but seven kids at Project Success,
a new Winton Woods school program, were reduced to toothy smiles recently over
a giant chocolate chip cookie.
That's because a piece of the cookie went to everyone who earned one or more
high school credits during the previous two weeks. In the first half of this
school year, the 14 students in this class have earned 92 credits - compared
to 23 in all of last year.
"This is a whole different approach to education," Larry Day, program coordinator,
says. "It's allowing them to be successful where they hadn't been before."
Winton Woods City Schools opened Project Success in the Greenhills Community
Building this year to help middle- and high school students who are behind
in their schoolwork get back on track.
One of five programs allows students to come here rather than be suspended
or expelled and sent home with no work. Day, three teachers, a substitute and
a counselor supervise the students' schoolwork.
Many students set goals for themselves and work at their own pace on the
computer. The ultimate goal is to return to regular school prepared to keep
up.
Arthur Williams, a 15-year-old who has received numerous suspensions for
fighting, talking back to teachers and dress code violations, says Project
Success is one of the few schools that gave him a chance.
"I figure I can do more work here than sitting at home," he says. "And this
will give me the opportunity to show I'm not just a class clown."
Students at Project Success don't have to impress anyone, he says.
"You can just be normal. I just want to be in my right grade. I'm too far
behind."
