New Junior High Program To Help Kids Make The Grade

The Kimball Junior High will be introducing a new program in order to aid students with troubled grades in the second half of the school year.

The program named Extended Learning Time will be a mandatory after school study hall for kids who fall on the D or F list. The study hall will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday with kids falling on the D or F lists to attend ELT for at least one week.

“We’re targeting the seventh and eighth grade. All students who have a D or an F would be affected by this. They would be asked to come to study hall the next week after falling on the D or F list so that parents and students have time to make arrangements so the student is able to attend,” Kimball Junior High teacher, Kathleen O’Brien said.

The purpose of the program as stated on the handout passed around at the School Board Meeting December 12 is to provide structured opportunity for students to make-up work, retake tests, or finish homework; assist students in raising grades to at least a C in every class; and reinforce positive environment, goal setting, and study habits.

As far as how ELT will affect athletics at the school, O’Brien says that the program will not affect players’ ability to play in scheduled games.

“Boys would be allowed to go to their game if there is a game that day, but if it is just a practice, they have to leave practice at 3:30 p.m. to come to study hall,” O’Brien said.

According to O’Brien, students should not look at this program as a punishment or a detention session if they are asked to attend the after school study hall.

“What we feel is happening here is that students just aren’t managing their time well or taking advantage of opportunities they have. We are very hopeful that this program will help students with that,” O’ Brien said.

The Extended Learning Time program will run during third quarter, and an evaluation by staff will be conducted after the third quarter to see if the program is working.