Light Rain Fog/Mist 45°

SHARE

Stamford Achieves Starts Beyond Limits Scholars Program

STAMFORD, Conn. – Stamford Achieves launched a pilot summer bridge program developed to help the many students who are unprepared, both academically and socially, when they enter high school.

Andy Sklover, director of Education and Advocacy for Stamford Achieves, meets with students and parents at the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program” orientation on June 9.

Andy Sklover, director of Education and Advocacy for Stamford Achieves, meets with students and parents at the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program” orientation on June 9.

 Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld
Thomas Pereira, Dean of Students at Stamford’s Westhill High School, and Program Coordinator of the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program,” speaks to students and families at the program orientation in June.

Thomas Pereira, Dean of Students at Stamford’s Westhill High School, and Program Coordinator of the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program,” speaks to students and families at the program orientation in June.

 Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld
Michael S. Fernandes, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, Stamford Public Schools, speaks to middle school students and their families about the transition to high school, at the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program” orientation on June 9.

Michael S. Fernandes, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, Stamford Public Schools, speaks to middle school students and their families about the transition to high school, at the “Beyond Limits Scholars Program” orientation on June 9.

 Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld
by Lynn Funk

The Beyond Limits Scholars Program will help train students in basic skills and expose them to school and district support resources.

“We have been closely tracking the eight- to ninth-grade transition and the success of freshmen in the public high schools,” said Andy Sklover, director of Education and Advocacy for Stamford Achieves. “Given the urgency expressed by the (High School Call To Action Committee), it became abundantly clear that many students need additional assistance.”

HSCAC helped to bring Stamford Achieves into the plan for the Beyond Limits Scholars Program. About 30 Stamford middle school students have registered for the program. They were chosen by a committee of middle school principals, guidance counselors and teachers after filling out an application, signing a program agreement and being interviewed.

“As the dean and a former ninth grade teacher, I see the transition that our middle school students face as they move from middle school to a larger and less structured environment,” said Thomas Pereira, dean of students at Westhill High School.

Pereira will oversee the Beyond Limits Scholars Program with help from teachers and guidance counselors.

“It is a significant problem when many struggle with the self-direction and autonomy that high school demands,” he said. “Our goal with this program is to ease the transition by exposing students to a number of different activities geared towards transitions. Hopefully they will build enough of this capacity to help them to become more self-directed learners, and peer leaders.”

For more information about BLSP, contact Sklover at blsp@stamfordachieves.org or call (203) 561-5631. Any businesses or individuals interested in donating resources or partnering with Stamford Achieves also should contact the program.

to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE