SUPPORTING STUDENTS ON THEIR JOURNEY
Navigating the Transition to High School Recognizing that the middle to high school transition can generate new stressors, RISE core partners invite rising Grade 9 students to participate in free summer bridge programs at their schools. Bridge programs build excitement around the high school transition, positive connections between students and staff, and an awareness of the importance of on-track achievement. In alignment with our equity goals, educators use the RISE Data Hub to identify students who would most benefit from the transition support based on their middle school grades, attendance, and behavior. For example, at Brien McMahon H.S. (BMHS) in Norwalk, administrators use the Hub to identify vulnerable students and reach out with program materials, providing them with early access to this critical intervention before opening the summer bridge program up to the remainder of the incoming class. “We work closely with our two feeder middle schools to be very intentional in our summer bridge recruitment,” said Sharina Jimenez, RISE Senior On-Track Coach for BMHS. “We share the list of students who are considered the most vulnerable with school counselors to facilitate conversations with families and students about participating in our program. We are confident that the students who will benefit the most from the summer bridge experience will have access to it before it fills up.” Once enrolled, summer bridge programs help incoming students get excited about high school by giving them the opportunity to build critical relationships, sharpen skills, and familiarize themselves with routines and expectations. “The transition to the freshman year is one of the biggest transitions these kids will go through,” said Peter Rinaldi, Grade 9 assistant principal at RISE partner Westhill High School in Stamford. He explained that the two-week program aims to remove students’ anxieties about starting high school. “If we take that piece away and make them more comfortable, then the academics can take the forefront,” he said.
10 • 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
