For the past several years, a group of staff and faculty members has been planning a new school system for incoming freshmen: First Year Academy.  This team-based system, made up of core subject teachers, freshmen administrators, and support staff, just completed its first school year.

Team 3 History teacher, Cameron Anderson, explains how it has improved students’ education.

“There is definitely improvement in attendance and grades… With kids in the honors levels, [you] guys have been very good about it by coming in on time and getting your work done and good grades,” he said.

Many students are afraid to ask for help because they fear they will be criticized by others. Freshman Riley Creamer made it clear how the academy helped students feel more supported.

“There are more resources for students if they’re stuck, and they don’t have to be afraid to ask for help,” she said.

Although many students and teachers shared positive experiences about First Year Academy, it still varied from person to person.

“I thought it was good. We did a lot of things we wanted to do, [tested things] out, and implemented a lot of strategies that were helpful for the kids. Overall, it went well and will keep getting better,” said Anderson.

“There’s good and bad parts. I’m kind of neutral about it. There are positive parts, like students in our grade have more resources, but then it can also limit others and slow other students down if they want to move at a quicker pace,” Creamer described.

Since this was the first time Norwood High School implemented a freshman team system, the staff already has good ideas and ways that they want to improve the program while still keeping the successful parts.

Team 3 English teacher Kathryn Benson said, “For next year, I want to work on making sure kids are independent enough to go onto sophomore year and be successful.”

Transitioning from middle school to high school can be difficult for almost everyone, regardless of where their previous school was. Freshman Owen Sanders explained that his transition from Coakley Middle School to Norwood High School went a lot smoother than planned.

“It went pretty smoothly since I already know most of the people in the high school, and the teachers in high school are super supportive.”

Freshman Jack Connell agreed with Sanders by saying, “It was chill.”

Even though a handful of students were afraid they wouldn’t have a “real” first year of high school, many finally admitted that they ended up enjoying the experience more than they expected.

“I met new people and teachers… I met [my friend] Jack, and he’s by far the best thing that happened about Freshmen Year Academy,” Sanders said.

Many faculty members dedicated their time and effort to making the First Year Academy a positive experience for all students. Besnon was one of the teachers involved in the process of planning.

“Last year, we met weekly to design lesson plans and talk about structure for the academy,” she said.

Although incoming freshmen may feel both excited and nervous, current freshmen offered advice for the next year’s students.

“Pick classes that you might do for four years because doing them in your freshman year could be important and change your perspective about what you want to do in your future,” stated Sanders.

Connell recommended, “Put yourself out there… I met a lot of new people and became friends with them.”