|
Academic probation plagues JFK M.S.
Cheektowaga-Sloan School District administrators and John F. Kennedy staff are looking for ways to curb the staggering proportion of students struggling with grades in JFK Middle School, a number that includes more than half of all eighth graders on academic probation this semester.
According to Sarah Bandemer, who is an eighth grade English language arts teacher at the middle school, 84 of 144 eighth graders- or 58 percent- are failing at least one subject this semester.
As part of being on academic probation, students are required to have a course sheet signed by all of their teachers that indicates if progress has been made in each class. If a student continues to struggle academically, or is marked under the "failing, effort poor" column, he or she is prohibited from attending various extracurricular school functions.
Included in the alarming totals are 68 students currently failing technology education. Bandemer said at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting that the ratio of boys and girls failing is roughly even. Bandemer and Principal David Peters, stated that students often do not seek academic assistance from teachers after school, a situation that often arises because of problems at home.
"Every teacher is more than willing to stay after school and help with projects and other assignments," Bandemer said. "We send letters home to be signed by parents that indicate that their child is struggling, and we don't get many sent back."
Bandemer added that of 60 letters sent home in a recent mailing, only nine were returned.
"We're emphasizing school and home," said Peters, who added that school administrators on one occasion had to contact Child Protective Services to investigate a female student who refused to attend school. "We're getting students who have the ability but are not valuing their education."
Mary Beth Odre, who is the sixth grade team leader at JFK Middle School, said block scheduling both helps and hinders students. Block scheduling creates double periods of certain subjects, for durations of five and 10 weeks, respectively. Sixth grade students receive block scheduling in science and social studies. Seventh grade students will begin block scheduling next year.
Odre said due to the increased perday workload of block scheduling, students who are prone to missing school fall behind and struggle academically.
"I'm surprised at how many parents and kids are content to take a 'zero' grade," said Odre, who added that science make-up classes are available after school every Wednesday, offering students a chance to boost a failing or poor grade to a score of up to 85. "Students who are (failing) are especially welcome to stay after. There's an increasing number of students needing one-onone attention."
Odre proposed that the board go as far as extending the school day to 3:45 p.m. each day from the regular 3:05 p.m. Incentives for "early dismissal" at 3:05 p.m. would be offered to students who pass their classes. She also proposed amending the district's Academic Eligibility Policy to help students in the classroom.
Board President Claire Ferrucci said the board was open to anything that would get students academically headed in the right direction.
"Whatever makes it better for students to move on, do it," Ferrucci said. "Whether it's block scheduling or not. (Teachers) have to get kids to do what they're supposed to do."
Superintendent of Schools James P. Mazgajewski said students are often hurt by lack of continuity.
"If we have students from when they started in Pre-K to high school, they're generally doing very well," said Mazgajewski, who added that about 50 percent of students starting in high school were not in the district as preschoolers. "A lot of people move or come, sometimes as much as fifteen percent a year. It's difficult for consistency."
The superintendent added that middle school administrators are trying their best to relate to students.
"Middle school's a difficult time for students," said Mazgajewski. "At that age, there are so many distractions. We're taking a look at strategically teaching. We have to find a way to hook kids into learning."
| 
