School saves 42 of 46 students
“Pomp and Circumstance” began to play and a procession of smiling students made their way past proud parents and applauding officials from Savannah-Chatham public schools.
But this was no typical commencement ceremony.
No one wore caps and gowns, and none of the graduates received diplomas in padded, leather cases. They weren’t even in high school.
Still, for the graduates of the Fresh Start Program, Thursday’s was a solemn event marking the first day of the rest of their academic lives.
“We have 42 students who will be leaving alternative placement and transitioning back to regular school, some of them for the first time in three or four years,” said Aldric Dekle, the program’s director.
The Savannah-Chatham public school system’s Fresh Start Program was organized at the beginning of the 2011-2012 year for kindergarten through fifth-graders who had been expelled or suspended long term from their regular schools.
Fresh Start is unlike the tough, no-frills environment of the old K-12 program at Scott Alternative Center. The program was designed to nurture young students, give them individual attention, get to the root of their behavioral and academic problems and prepare them for success in regular school.
“Our Fresh Start students are returning to traditional schools with their grades higher than they’ve ever been, their behavior better than it has ever been and mentors to help them transition back and keep up the momentum,” said Aretha Rhone-Bush, the executive director over the program.
Carl Scott, a Savannah State University Student, is one of the 40 male mentors from Savannah State, Armstrong, and Georgia Tech who are helping Fresh Start students work through past issues and stay focused on their behavioral and academic goals.
“I started out on the very same path, and I see myself in these kids,” Scott said. “I want to provide them with the role model that I didn’t have when I was their age.”
Many of the male mentors took the boys under their tutelage out for T-shirts and bought them shirts and ties for the graduation ceremony.
Jawuan Williams said his feelings about school changed after working with teachers, counselors and students in the small group setting at Fresh Start.
“I like all the children in my class and all of my teachers and I do my work,” he said. “It’s not hard to do, and I’m going to keep on doing it.”
Some 46 suspended or expelled elementary grades students went through the Fresh Start Program this year. Forty-two improved enough academically and behaviorally to return to their regular schools. The remaining four are scheduled to return to regular school in January.
Fresh Start’s results are remarkable, considering that half the students had been out of the regular school setting for two or more years before Fresh Start was organized and a few were alternative school long-timers, having been at Scott from first to fourth grade.
Yet, all Fresh Start fifth graders passed all portions of the CRCT and all Fresh Start fourth graders passed the requirements for promotion. The Fresh Start program didn’t suspend or expel any students and only one student was returned to the program after transitioning back to regular school.
“You reap what you sow, and it is crystal clear what Fresh Start is putting into these young people,” said Youth Futures Authority Executive Director Edward Chisolm. “These young people are being prepared.”
After the graduation ceremony Xavier Felton straightened his tie and posed for graduation pictures with his Fresh Start mentor. He will enroll in sixth grade at his regular neighborhood middle school next year.
“They put forth lots of effort to help us do better and become gentlemen,” he said. “It feels good to be a gentleman.”