For Immediate Release

Monday, March 11, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Medway High School Develops Program to Support Freshmen Academic, Social Emotional Needs

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that Medway High School will launch a new program to support freshmen as they transition from middle school this fall.

The program, called the Freshmen Academy, will group educators into two teams, serving approximately 80 ninth grade students each. The teams will include English, science, math and social studies teachers, as well as a counselor and a special education teacher who will work together to monitor the academic, social, emotional and behavioral progress of each student.

“The transition from middle school to high school is significant in both the academic and social emotional aspects of the lives of ninth grade students,” said Medway High School Principal John Murray. “Many students find the transition to the high school challenging, and this program will allow our staff to focus on the unique needs of each student, and work together to provide support.”

The teacher teams will meet during the week to discuss any support students may need, and will keep a regular dialogue going throughout the school year about the development of each student. This time will also incorporate ongoing professional development, and will allow teachers to share strategies to meet student academic needs, share insight into student strengths and weaknesses, allow for common planning time and coordination of team events, and provide the opportunity for teachers to create interdisciplinary lessons, units of study, and/or experiences like field trips.

The Freshmen Academy support system will create a staff team that works to support freshmen students, without interrupting their assimilation to the high school. Freshmen students will continue to move and mingle throughout the school building along with upperclassmen, while receiving targeted supports.

“We believe this program will address the needs of individual ninth grade students, and help them adjust to life at their new school,” Principal Murray said. “It’s our goal to support our students to be successful and comfortable while they learn and explore new areas of interest at the high school.”

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