Transition course prepares students for high school

This summer, more than 30 Arlington students entering ninth grade in the fall are engaging in a course to help prepare them for high school. The project-based learning transition course utilizes English and math skills. The students’ project is to develop a plan to organize a walk-a-thon to raise funds for a food truck for the Arlington Community Food Bank.

“This is more than just learning math functions and reading and writing skills from a book,” said Arlington High School math teacher, Andrea O’Keefe. “The students are utilizing linear functions skills for their research to determine costs and blogging for the reading and writing portion of the project.”

Once students complete the course, they will earn a .5 Study Lab credit for their high school transcript.

O’Keefe, along with fellow teachers Tracy Austin, Emily Lonneker and Kayli Beidler, are helping the students build confidence as they enter high school.

“The students have shared that this summer course was not what they expected,” said O’Keefe. “Because of the project they’re working on, there’s a very practical application to the skills they’re learning.”

The transition course runs through July 15.