Deltona, FL-Thousands of public school students throughout Volusia and Flagler are headed back to school today. Unless, that is, they happen to be in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade at Deltona High School. A new pilot program from Volusia County Schools being implemented on Monday will see most of Deltona High’s students getting that day off before having to report on Tuesday. That’s because the program – called Freshmen Transition – is aimed at having the newest Wolves get comfortable with their new surroundings while also learning about all the things they can do now that they’re out of middle school.
It’s all about giving the 9th graders a solid foundation as they transition from middle school to high school, according to DHS Principal Carolyn Carbonell. “They get lost that first day,” Carbonell added. “They don’t transition very smoothly from middle school to high school. So the team came up with a plan to bring them the first day all by themselves and then all the teachers are rallying around these students.” The “team” Carbonell is referring to is a group of DHS teachers, guidance counselors and administrators who came up with the idea last school year and pitched it to the school district.
All DHS freshmen are being required to come to school on Monday to take part in that program, but it won’t exactly be a typical school day other than not having the sophomores, juniors and seniors around. The morning will be mostly spent in homeroom, where teachers will give the 9th graders an outline of the day and what’s expected of them in terms of academic programs, requirements, policies and procedures before getting a tour of the campus. Part of the tour includes a stop at the gym, where freshmen will be introduced to all the clubs and organizations the school offers and can sign up for them if they wish.
The freshmen will also be assigned new school identification cards and lockers once they pay a small fee before going to a “student success” class where students will learn about what they need to get out of Deltona High with a degree. Following lunch, the freshmen will spend the afternoon attending all of their classes, with the periods being much shorter than normal so that there’s just enough time for the teachers and students to get to know one another before the school day ends at its normal time. Even though she doesn’t quite know what to expect on Monday, Carbonell does think the program will be a staple for years to come at DHS and possibly expand to include the school district’s other 9 high schools if it proves to be a success at Deltona High. “9th graders are the biggest group, generally speaking, that come into Deltona High,” Carbonell stated. “We want to make sure that they are successful so that we can have a higher graduation rate.” Any DHS students or parents with questions or concerns can call 386-575-4153 for more information.
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