Pres Girls Step It Up

Desks are grouped in clusters, accompanied by a cart of laptop computers. “Tests This Week” scrawls across the board, and a bathroom sign-out sheet adorns the corkboard. Smiling pictures of tutors Shelby Orta, Brittany Ricketts, and Meghan Merwin are posted on the wall, with descriptions of the subjects they help tutor.

Yes, the reception room has been transformed. Originally used for the purpose of greeting shadow-students and housing Mr. Crary’s office, the reception room now functions as a study center for the Step Up program, new on campus this year.

From three to five each day after school, the study room bustles with activity. Ms. Healy and Mrs. Mikacich designed the Step Up program with the intention of providing resources for students struggling academically. In order to qualify for the program, students must be on academic probation, meaning that they have a 2.0 grade point average or below. Girls on academic probation with study periods must spend them in the Step Up program with Ms. Livingston, and those who do not have study periods come in after school.  Ms. Livingston works from nine to five each day to ensure that these students have access to tutoring and support. The three sophomore and junior helpers come in on alternate A and B days in order to provide everything from study tips to homework folders. In addition to help from tutors, study skills sessions are held weekly. Step Up students also have access to a new software program called WYNN. This software allows the school to download books so that students can read texts while simultaneously listening to it on earphones.

If a student is struggling in school and would like to join the program, she must first seek help from a teacher. The next step is to talk with Ms. Healy, who can decide whether the student qualifies for the program. Ms. Penner, the learning specialist on campus, is also available for assistance.

Ms. Livingston is very excited about the program and voiced several goals for the future. Some goals included accommodating more students and figuring out how to situate the room for optimum space.

Although she would like to help more students, she hopes that those in the program now will be able to turn their academic performance around quickly.

“Of course, we don’t want the girls here forever,” she says. “Essentially, they need to ‘step up’ out of the doldrums into the world. That’s our goal.”