Eagle Academy off to flying start

Attendance to night high school program double what was expected

The Eagle Academy night school program at Kennett High School is not only up and running this fall but is thriving, say school officials.There are more than twice the number of participants than had been expected, and three quarters of them are former drop-outs."We were hoping for 15-18 and if we could get in that range we'd be satisfied but we had 42 students enroll in the academy and 39 are actively attending classes," Kennett High Assistant Principal Steve Woodcock, who is overseeing the Eagle Academy, said. "We accepted 42 students out of 55 interviews for the program."The primary mission of the Eagle Academy "is to provide an alternative route to a high school diploma for students that may have not been successful in a traditional day program. The secondary mission is to provide course instruction and credits that can be transferred into the KHS day program."Woodcock said the Academy features students who may not have enjoyed success in the traditional classroom setting. There are two, single parent moms enrolled along with a single parent dad and there are people of varying ages including a 25-year-old. "Three-quarters of the students we have back are former dropouts," Woodcock said. "Most of these students are working in the community 30-40 hours a week and then making time to be here in the evening because it's that important to them, which is wonderful to see."Under the Eagle Academy, which was created last April to help curb the dropout rate at Kennett High, there are credit-diploma requirements: "An Eagle Academy diploma will meet the State of New Hampshire minimum 20 credit requirement and have the approval of the Conway School Board. The required credits, on the New Hampshire Department of Education system is: English, 4; Math, 2; Science, 2 (must include a physical science and biology); Social Studies, 3 (must include U.S. History, .5 Civics, and .5 Economics); Technology, .5; Health, .5; Electives, 8. Elective credits may be awarded for community service, job credit, apprentice credit, vocational/technical instruction, internships or approved correspondence courses."Courses are offered Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Students can take as many as four courses per semester or as few as one. There is a strict attendance policy, if you miss more than two classes the semester is over for the individual."We want people to be invested," Woodcock said. "Again, much like summer school, we have a constructive, hands-on, attitude. We require 20 courses for a diploma and are the only school of this nature that requires and exit exam. We're not going to rubber stamp anything. We're concerned about the content of the education. If you pass the course, you've done the work."Under the course schedule, Intro to Technology and Mathematics I are offered on Mondays; two sessions of English III and IV on Tuesdays along with Intro to Foods and Nutrition; Economics, English I and II and Civics are offered on Wednesdays; and History of the White Mountains and Intro to Anthropolgy (the highest enrolled class) are offered on Thursday nights."We couldn't be happier with the initial turnout," Woodcock said, "but as (New England Patriots Head Coach) Bill Bellechik said, 'a couple of weeks don't make the season. ... The teachers and staff have been terrific and Jack Loynd (principal at Kennett High) has been extremely supportive."Woodcock said there are three students who are on track to graduate from the Eagle Academy in its first graduation ceremony slated for Dec. 20. Also on the positive front, according to Woodcock a female student dropped out of the Eagle Academy after only a few days. "After coming to night school she decided to go back to day school full time. ... We also have four students from the day school who are on target to graduate paying $100 to take night classes to stay on target to graduate because they couldn't fit the courses they needed into their day schedule."The motto of the Eagle Academy is "The future is now.""For these kids it is," Woodcock said. "You can't go back and live in the past, you've got to move forward. ... This is a second chance, not a rubber stamp."