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Field Day Builds Unity for Incoming CSHS Freshmen

TAVERNIER, Fla. – What do rolls of duct tape, falling backwards and the class of 2010 have in common? They were all part of the fun at the ninth-grade transition “Field Day” held May 16 at Coral Shores High School as part of a transition program for the incoming freshmen to help them stick together and reduce the drop out rate for Monroe County students.

Key Largo School 8th grader Justine Lozeau said, “I thought the field day at Coral Shores was great. We all know that PKS and KLS have been “rivals” for years. We never really knew why we didn’t get along most of the time, but it was just the way things were. I was skeptical when we got there because I wasn’t sure whether we would be able to have any fun together. It turns out we had a blast. I met a couple new people who were all really nice and I know we’ll be buddies when we get to High School. Field Day was a great way to settle prior conflicts with the 8th graders there and be able to be one group for the next four years instead of being separated.” Lozeau and about 180 peers from the Class of 2010 came together for a one-day special event May 16th at Coral Shores High School (CSHS) and participated in field events, trust games, and small groups to overcome fears and animosity that have existed for previous classes entering 9th grade.

Before Field Day, student mentors from CSHS spent four weeks visiting class rooms at Plantation Key School (PKS) and Key Largo School (KLS) interviewing students and administering surveys to glean what their concerns about moving up to high school would be. After completing the survey process, MYCP hired consultant Jon Gordon. The students met at Next Step a Challenge Day event when they went to San Francisco for a three-day leadership training in January. Gordon, also a Challenge Day Facilitator, was inspirational to the students and they brought him in to train McGregor and her students how to design and implement an effective transition program. Before Field Day, McGregor, Sutter, and student mentors hosted a general assembly at each of the middle schools for all the 8th grade students to give them an overview of life in the high school setting. The assembly presentation included photographs of CSHS, an introduction to the staff, rules, an explanation of credits, semesters, GPA, sports, clubs, and after-school activities available. At the end of the assembly, four high school students and the staff members hosted a question and answer session.

Lisa M. Blakely, the school counselor at Plantation Key School said, “The high school students were well-prepared and our students gained some important insight into high school life from a student’s perspective.” For the three weeks following the student orientation, Monica Dixon, Gaby Feilke, Erin Fry, Katie Hoyt, Oceane Leguiset, Brieze Levy, Maire McMahon, Ashlee Panse, and Francine Swadley – all female students from the leadership class -- organized a peer-mentoring program for the 8th Grade girls. It was designed to make students aware of some of the social aspects of high school, such as peer pressure and the importance of joining activities, clubs, and sports. “The 8th Grade girls gave overwhelming positive feedback about this experience. They said they felt less nervous and more prepared to ‘cross the street’,” Blakely said. The following week the eighth grade students from PKS and KLS walked or were bussed to CSHS for Field Day.

KLS Student Janessa Silvestri said, “Field Day taught us how to trust, listen, and comprehend with new kids. Even though there has always been drama between KLS and PKS, that day we all got along great.” Field Day activities were led by some of the class’ students and other upperclassmen. The day included small group team-building, small and large group discussions, trust-building exercises, and lunch that included a problem-solving activity. The day concluded with all of the students joining together in the gymnasium to make t-shirts for themselves that each of them signed. They also signed a large banner that read, “Coral Shores High School, Class of 2010.” Blakely said, “The day was exciting, meaningful, and fun for everyone. Students from all three schools enjoyed getting to know each other and bonding.” Many hugs were exchanged with students yelling, “See you next year!”

After attending Field Day, KLS student Cassie Smerek said, “I can’t wait to go to high school for the next best years of my life!!” Coral Shores High School College and Career Counselor Chris Harris has a son Jake entering 9th grade at Coral Shores. She related this story, “He said, ‘It was really a lot of fun!!!’ So I asked what they did and he said, ‘We had to think about stuff.’ I thought this was pretty significant…thinking and fun in the same sentence!”

Another CSHS teacher, Tracy Dobson, commented, “Kudos to the Leadership class and to Anjanette McGregor! I watched timid eighth graders arrive and happy, confident incoming freshmen leave. As we know from research, students learn best when they feel comfortable and I believe they’re on their way to becoming successful learners!” Most everyone who participated as a facilitator/mentor at Field Day came for two hours of training with Gordon and McGregor, “on Mother’s Day – a BIG sacrifice, for which I am so thankful,” said McGregor.

This event was completely funded by Monroe County Challenge Program through the MYCP-sponsored Coral Shores High School Leadership class lead by Anjanette McGregor. The total cost is expected to be around $2,500. Students from both the leadership class and the “Be the Change” lunch-time club spearheaded the Field Day concept and were the driving force to make it happen. Several of the leadership students attended an intensive “Next Step to Being the Change Workshop” leadership training in San Francisco earlier this year. The idea for the Field Day came as a result of their Next Step training and a desire to come home and make a change in their school environment for incoming classes. McGregor said, “When we were brainstorming ideas for a class project, the students came up with the concept because of the tension they experienced at the beginning of their 9th grade year.”

Next Step was a highly experiential program that helped student leaders and school-staff examine: a new philosophy for stopping teen violence and isolation; a compassionate approach to ending social oppression in schools, families and communities; and an action-based model for socio-emotional learning. Participants dove deeper into issues affecting teens, including youth violence, racism, teasing, stereotypes, gender roles, social oppression and how it affects each person individually, and had the opportunity to explore and heal their own experiences of social oppression. The Next Step training mission was accomplished. The handful of students that attended Next Step with Monroe County School District Safe School Administrator Sunny Booker and MYCP District Coordinator Michele Sutter changed the potential success rate of nearly 180 students planning to enter Coral Shores High School next year – and possibly every incoming class from now on.

Safe School Administrator, Booker sees the potential benefit of this type of programming throughout the Keys. At MHS, students from Big Pine have a challenge in blending with the Marathon students. At KWHS, students mix from Sugarloaf and Horace O’Bryant Schools.

When asked why she’s so passionate about her students and their involvement in Field Day, McGregor said, “Having grown up here, I was familiar with the rivalry that exists and remember feeling scared about merging when we came to the high school. From the research that I have done, I have found that numerous school districts around the country are experiencing the same problems and that these problems are contributing to the skyrocketing drop-out rate. The districts that are attempting to ease this transition have done so through programs similar to Field Day, as the building of relationships has been proven to have a positive correlation with keeping students in school through graduation.”

McGregor’s hope is to keep working with the data that comes out of this pilot program and to continue to be involved with it in some fashion. Even though she is relocating this summer to Tennessee, she plans to stay in touch with the students and staff at Coral Shores while possibly instituting a similar program nationwide. In addition, while the program was a success, Gordon and McGregor are looking at the way the day was organized and brainstorming ways in which it can be improved for the future.

McGregor offers one parting thought, “I am often asked why the kids like me so much – my response to that would be that I find something to love in each and every one of my students (it’s not hard to do). Every one of them is unique and has so much to offer – if we take our time and open our eyes, their individual beauty is easy to see.”

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project, Challenge Day, Next Step, or any other MYCP sponsored program call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.keysschools.com.