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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2006 (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Fresh Start By Paris Achen Mail Tribune Tormented by tales of upperclassmen at South Medford High School stuffing freshmen into trash cans and pitching soda at them from car windows, Clease Carlisle anticipated high school with dread. "When I was a freshman and I was coming into a big school, I was freaked out because I had heard all these stories that freshmen got canned or Coke-d," Carlisle said. "Those are just myths." Hoping to dispel such rumors and give freshmen a sense of belonging, the incoming senior class vice president, along with other mentors, will introduce ninth-graders to South Medford High School on their first day of school, Sept. 5, one day earlier than that of upperclassmen. Freshmen also will meet teachers, go on a tour of the school and learn the location of their classes. When upperclassmen join the lowerclassmen on Sept. 6, Carlisle will be one of the familiar faces freshmen can to turn to amid the sea of nearly 2,000 students when they have a question or want to find out about what's happening on the high school scene. Advertisement Playfully called "Fresh Start," the early ninth-grade start date signals the launch of North and South Medford high schools' freshman academies, small learning communities meant to promote student achievement and curb dropout rates. Funded by a $1.7 million grant the Oregon Small Schools Initiative, the learning communities of 120 to 160 freshmen are designed to foster academic accountability and deeper relationships with teachers and peers while offering interconnected lessons. "The real thrust of the freshman academy is making connections with kids as quickly as we can," said Hal Jones, assistant principal at South. "We know from research that is the most important thing we can do to overcome the sense of isolation in a big place like this." If students feel they are in a welcoming environment, they are more likely to show up for classes and focus on academics, Jones said. "When they are worried and isolated, they are much less receptive to academics," he said. The concept of small learning communities is gaining popularity across the nation and is expected to expand to sophomore classes at North and South in the 2007-08 school year. South's freshman academy will be divided into three "houses" of 160 students. Each "house" shares the same teachers for four core subjects as well as a counselor and an administrator. Each freshman is required to attend a course called "Connections" that focuses on charting an educational and career path and developing communication and other social skills. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, freshmen will attend an advisory period of 20-24 students led by an advisor who is one of the four core subject teachers. The advisory period is intended to give the teacher and students an informal time to get to know each other, build teamwork skills and check up on academic performance. North High School's freshman academy will have a structure similar to South High School's, but with 120 pupils per house. North also will not require the Connections course, though the high school's advisory period will include career exploration. In addition to nurturing students' sense of connection at school, the learning communities are expected to enhance the quality of lessons in freshmen's core subjects, officials at the high schools said. The four teachers in each freshman house will meet on a regular basis to plan thematic lessons in their respective subjects and share information about students to look for patterns that might raise concern. For example, as the English teacher asks students to read The Call of the Wild, the science teacher would give a lesson on how much energy it takes to change snow from a solid to a liquid to a gas, said Leslie Ashpole, physical science and honors biology teacher at South High. At the same time, the social studies teacher would be talking about the geography of the area, she said. She said she is looking forward to working with a smaller group of students. "Working with a small group of kids, you become aware of patterns in kids' behavior," she said. "I might have a problem with Johnny, and I think, maybe it's me. If I see he went from straight A's to C's, I know something else is going on. The collaboration helps us keep kids from falling through the cracks." Reach reporter Paris Achen by calling 541-776-4459 or [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews