WEST ORANGE, NJ — It’s called the “Step Up” program, and this year it has helped dozens of freshmen at West Orange High School take on a new set of responsibilities.
The annual summer program at West Orange High School — which ended a few weeks ago — has provided academic enrichment to more than 30 incoming students for 2022, district administrators said.
What did the participating students do? According to the district:
“This year’s program offered daily lessons in English/Language Arts, Math, and Organizational Skills. Eighth-graders who could benefit from additional academic support have been identified by their instructors at Liberty and Roosevelt Colleges and recommended for Step Up University classes were held on Mondays Students met on Thursdays for fun team building activities and had the opportunity to meet with administration including Principal Hayden Moore, Principals assistants and deans, as well as upper-class students who participated in the activities culminated in a scavenger hunt that helped students learn about the campus layout.”
Moore said the high school has offered the program to incoming freshmen for nine years.
“Statistics show that the program has increased students’ ability to succeed in their first year,” Moore said, crediting homeroom teacher Chuck Manzo, ELA teacher Molly Wachtel, math teacher Katherine Garcia and teacher organization Sharon Ortiz for their “commitment to helping our new mountaineers succeed.”