WBHS freshmen get a "Fresh Start"

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, William Byrd High School will be implementing the “Fresh Start” transitional program for incoming 9th grade students. The purpose of the program is to ease the transition for students from middle school to high school in the emotional, social and academic areas; thereby increasing the success of students in their ninth grade year and ensuring continued success throughout high school.

This program will offer students a smaller school environment with 9th grade students being housed in one primary area for the majority of core area classes and prominent electives. Other goals and of the “Fresh Start” program include but are not limited to: the creation of an effective communication plan that is clear, continuous, consistent and includes all parties (parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, students, etc) necessary for student success; a conscious effort to foster the social and emotional growth of each individual student through homeroom teacher and counselor involvement; a directed focus on interdisciplinary and differentiated instruction; continuous professional development in transitional programming for 9th grade teachers; collaboration between teachers to allow for greater cross curriculum planning across the curriculum as well as to discuss student needs; etc.

(Last updated 8/18/09)