Maya McFadden Photo
I got your back: Alberto Wednesday with new mentor.
Huddled in the hallway, Wilbur Cross senior Alejandro Delacruz offered pre-game tips to incoming freshman Alberto Colon: Be confident. And keep your grades up if you want to be on the baseball team.
He gave that advice Wednesday during Wilbur Cross’s first-ever summer high school bridge program for first-year students. In return, he received a pinky promise to think long-term about his studies.
The pilot three-day workshop aims to help incoming freshmen prepare early for their transition to the city’s largest high school next month.
A group of 50 local students volunteered to spend four hours of their summer break learning about Cross’ programming, resources, and touring the building.
The rising first-years traveled in groups of 15 to 20, paired with four to five current Cross juniors and seniors, who shared their perspectives of the school and will serve as familiar faces on the first years’ first days.
Next week the school will host another cohort of 30 incoming students.
“This helps to make it a less intimidating school,” said Principal Matt Brown. “They can see how current students are able to make positive impacts here.” Brown helped organize a similar bridge program when he previously ran High School in the Community (HSC).
Cross student leaders with incoming first-years.
The bridge program is an extension of Cross’s “First Day Fresh” initiative that is hosted for first-year students on the first day of school. It encourages first-years to share “fresh” and bold goals for the school year. The district also hopes for the bridge program to help it proactively combat its chronic absenteeism rates for first-year high school students struggling to transition from middle school.
Wilbur Cross civics teacher Brian Grindrodo is spearheading the Cross bridge program. He said this year’s incoming first-year class will have around 425 students out of a schoolwide enrollment of 1,700.
“They’re going from being the big fish in a small pond to the little fish in a big bowl,” Grindrod said. “They have a leg up by learning individual responsibility now and what kind of support system they have to help them through this transition.”
The students learned Wednesday that classes run 80 minutes, with about three to five minutes to get there. They were informed that fighting earns you nine days of suspension, so “it’s not worth it.” And that the school has five social workers, several counselors, and dozens of staffers willing to provide them with academic, social, and emotional help.
In one class led by Cross counselor Kimberly Barrington, the students filled out SMART goal worksheets to set goals and plans to achieve them.
“Think about what does success mean to you your freshmen year? Who can help you get there?” Barrington asked.
Incoming freshman Alberto Colon, 13, noted down his main goal: making the Cross baseball team.
Student leader Alejandro Delacruz, 17, stood by his side Wednesday helping Colon figure out how to get there.
“You got to stay out of trouble and get good grades to make the team,” Delacruz advised.
“I’m going to keep everything above a C,” Colon said before noting it down on his worksheet.
Colon, who graduated from John Martinez School, told Delacruz he worries he will get lost trying to find his classes during the first few days.
“If you do get lost,” Delacruz said, “just look for me.”
Colon fills out goals for the school year.
Delacruz, whose younger sister also took part in the Wednesday bridge program, suggested Colon make it a goal to not only make the team but to also graduate high school.
Colon shook his head no.
“You know you can, right? You don’t have to go to college, but you have to at least graduate high school,” Delacruz said.
The two pinky-promised that Colon will graduate from high school.
Delacruz advised students like Colon to find a friend group that “keeps you at peace” and to not be afraid to put yourself out there.
He promised to take Colon under his wing this coming school year, because he reminds him of his younger self.
Assistant Superintendent Keisha Redd-Hannans with students Wednesday.
This program is a fantastic idea! Having seniors and juniors doing orientation and mentoring incoming freshman will really help students feel more comfortable about attending a large and unfamiliar school, and give them a big sibling type person that they can look to if they need help, and encouraging them to stay out of trouble, and to encourage them to graduate. All of the high schools should have this type of program and expand it to include all incoming freshman. In the larger schools like Cross and Hillhouse it is especially important.