Conferences provide opportunity to recap student progress

Since the start of the school year, every Tuesday and Thursday, classes began twenty minutes later in an effort to allocate  teachers more time for meeting regarding student academic performance. The long term results of this initiative will be revealed at spring parent-teacher conferences March 14 and March 19 from 4:00-7:30 p.m. in the Field House.

In addition to parents, students are encouraged to attend. Some teachers have agreed to let students participate in the discussions to more accurately assess goals and expectations for student performance.

Sophomore Abdu Abdallhi said he will not be joining his parents at conferences and is more concerned about his parents’ attendance.

“I feel kind of anxious about my parents seeing my grades because last semester was hard for me, and I’m trying to make it up,” Abdallhi said

While the schedule change has been a difficult adjustment for some students, Principal Rob Metz said it has been worthwhile for teachers, who can meet more frequently to evaluate particular groups of students.

“We feel we’re keeping a closer eye on students and it’s working,” Metz said. “The freshman failure rate is the lowest it’s ever been at 11.5%, and the sophomore rate is dropping. We’re the guinea pigs in a trial-and-error program, but we are in connection with high schools in California and Maine under this initiative that are seeing similar results.”

No appointments are necessary for spring conferences. Not all teachers will be available both nights, and part time teachers will be at the high school only on Mar 14. Students or parents with any questions or concerns are encouraged to e-mail the appropriate teachers.