By Ronna Weltman
Special to the Bellevue Reporter
Odle Middle School Principal Eric McDowell’s enthusiasm for a new program is contagious.
“Starting Strong is one of the most exciting things I’ve been involved with in education – and I’ve been in education for 20 years,” he said.
Starting Strong at Odle targets incoming sixth graders identified as academically “at risk.” The program is also offered at Highland Middle School and for ninth graders at Interlake and Sammamish high schools.
The thinking behind Starting Strong can be summarized in a few simple questions.
“What would happen if we took our lowest-performing incoming sixth graders and gave them an extra week of instruction before school starts?” McDowell said.
Additionally, what if teachers and administrators helped students with their organization and study skills? What if the school familiarized them with the logistics of middle school? Most importantly, what if staff used that week to build relationships with these students so that every one of them knew that someone at their middle school cared about them – before the school year even began?
Starting Strong is just one of several “Project Readiness” programs in the Bellevue School District. Project Readiness, funded by the Bellevue Schools Foundation, provides extra support to students in schools that serve low-income students.
For younger students, Project Readiness focuses on early reading intervention. Extra classroom aides in Ardmore, Lake Hills, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Stevenson and Woodridge elementary schools help kindergartners catch up to grade-level literacy standards. Since implementation of this program, average year-end scores have increased to 90 percent of students reading at grade level.
Success in learning is dependent, of course, on more than instructional strategy. Another Project Readiness program at Lake Hills and Stevenson elementary schools is the funding of a Positive Behavior Intervention Specialist, who intercedes and provides guidance to students who need help with their behavior. Since a troubled child’s behavior can impact an entire classroom, helping that child in times of crisis helps the entire classroom as well.
Project Readiness works in tandem with the City of Bellevue’s Wrap-Around Initiative, which coordinates delivery of community services such as a dental van, children’s counseling services, emergency assistance for rent, utilities and clothing, after-school child care, and a spectrum of additional services and activities.
As Starting Strong, participants are about to embark on a new school year, McDowell is confident about their ability to navigate their new school.
“Kids who were in Starting Strong have much better grades than similar kids the prior year when we didn’t have this program. They start the school year with newly-acquired confidence and leadership skills.”
Ronna Weltman is a member of the Bellevue Schools Foundation
