Teacher Haley Krause works with students Jazzy Loner and Alora Davis in the Academy for Customized Learning.
By NEVAEH BOYD | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mount Union, Pa. — From vision to action, a new program called Bridges is coming soon to Mount Union Area High School. The program will help meet the unique needs of students transitioning back into the traditional classroom environment.
Bridges is a program designed for students returning from an online platform or other placement who may not yet be ready to return to the traditional classroom. Students in the program will follow a curriculum based on their ability levels while receiving support to help them accomplish their goals. The main objective is to help students eventually transition back into the traditional classroom.
Dawn Shields, online coordinator for the Academy for Customized Learning, is one of the main staff members helping with Bridges. According to Shields, the program is designed to meet the needs of students who may need additional support in currently established programs. The goal is to have a positive impact on those students and help them succeed.
Bridges is being brought to the high school because staff noticed a missing piece in student learning. The program was designed to have customizations to meet the individual needs of every student. There is no specific way to transition from the program back to the traditional classroom because each student’s needs and progress may be different.
The plan is to blend resources and make Bridges the missing layer in academic support. Shields hopes students will eventually be able to transition to traditional classrooms and thrive, depending on their individual progress over time. “I am a firm believer in the power of yet,” she said.
Students who are struggling and need extra support are the target for the Bridges program. The program was built to help every student get the right resources to prepare for the future they hope to pursue. As Bridges is introduced, Shields sees the program as another opportunity to help students succeed.
“Anytime there is a new program, it provides a unique opportunity to help students grow in meaningful ways,” Shields said.
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
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