I interviewed an OFC student who is a senior at BHS. This student has been in the program since junior. He or she also wished to remain anonymous, so I won't include his or her name in the interview:
How long have you been in the Opportunity for Change Program?
I've been in OFC since my junior year.
Why are you in OFC?
I'm in OFC because I skipped a lot of classes during the beginning of my junior year and had a lot of tardys because I was late to class often. I just didn't have any motivation anymore for school, I don't know why.
What are the major differences between OFC and mainstream BHS?
The major difference is the structure of the OFC program. We only focus on one subject at a time and have a very unique schedule. There is no room for mistakes it seems and the teachers and Mr. Poon make sure you stay on top of your work - or you can get kicked out the program. You can't get lost in OFC like people do in regular high school.
Which system you like better: OFC or reg. BHS?
I really like OFC more. The work is easier to do and it's a lot less stressful here. I stay more organized too. I like the environment and the teachers are nice and helpful. I can say that I trust the teacher here because we get really close to each other and bond. I also like the people in my class because we are kinda like a big family.
Are you trying to get out of OFC?
NO! I'm glad I'm in the program because it's helped me a ton. I will be an OFC grad and I have no shame in saying that.
Have you gotten better academically - grades and GPA wise?
Yes. I wasn't the worst student during my freshman and sophomore year, I got B's and C's. Then junior year wasn't good until I got into OFC, because I was getting D's and E's. Now I get A's and B's!
Do you know people who have left OFC and returned back to the mainstream? If so, how are they doing?
No, not really. I'm not close with the people who have left.
Do you have any plans for after high school? College, job? Do you think OFC has helped you with preparing for things like this?
I am certainly going to college. BU is my top choice and I like Northeastern too. I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up. I love clothes! OFC has helped me a lot! I got me back on track with my academics and put me back into reality. Without OFC, I could have been another dropout. It's a good program.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Interview with OFC Student
I interviewed an OFC student who is a senior at BHS. This student has been in the program since sophomore year. He or she wished to remain anonymous, so I will not include his or her name in this information:
How long have you been in the Opportunity for Change Program?
Since my sophomore year
Why are you in OFC?
Well my freshman year I was doing okay in school, then in my sophomore year I started to mess up. Just stopped doing my homework and then I was failing a lot of my classes. My parents didn't know what to do with me, so somehow OFC just came up and before I knew it, I was in the program.
What are the major differences between OFC and mainstream BHS?
Umm, the major difference between OFC and regular BHS is the issue of freedom. At times I feel as though I'm a prisoner and have no "get-out of jail" free card. I liked the freedom I had in the regular system and wish I didn't have to be in this program. And you are in the same classes with the same people for hours and it can get annoying at times.
So I guess I don't need to ask which system you like better: OFC or reg. BHS?
Haha. Definitely regular BHS. I have so much more freedom.
Are you trying to get out of OFC?
Yeah. I really want to go back to the regular BHS, but my parents think this is the right program for me. They still don't completely trust me and stuff and this OFC is helping me get back on track and helping me do better in school and stuff. But this is my last year in high school, so I mean it really doesn't matter at this point. Just going to finish out high school strong.
Have you gotten better academically - grades and GPA wise?
Yeah I have. I did good in high school freshman year - had a B- GPA. Then sophomore year I messed up a lot and it dropped a lot. Got too many D's and E's. But OFC has helped raised my GPA, right now I'm a 3. something. The work is a lot easier and stuff. And because we only study one thing at a time, it's easier to learn the stuff better.
Do you know people who have left OFC and returned back to the mainstream? If so, how are they doing?
I do. One of my good friends left a couple years ago. I'm not sure how he's doing academically really, but he seems mad happy and seems to be enjoying regular BHS. He always talks about how he's really happy that he got out of OFC. He didn't really like it here.
Do you have any plans for after high school? College, job? Do you think OFC has helped you with preparing for things like this?
I want to go to college after high school. Not really sure where though, but no where far. A lot of OFC grads go to UMASS schools, so I will probably go to one of these. Not sure what I want to do for a career, I'm still thinking about this. And I guess OFC has helped with preparing me. My GPA is better, so this helps when applying for college. I did focus a lot more on my studies when I got put in OFC too. S I guess it's helped me..
How long have you been in the Opportunity for Change Program?
Since my sophomore year
Why are you in OFC?
Well my freshman year I was doing okay in school, then in my sophomore year I started to mess up. Just stopped doing my homework and then I was failing a lot of my classes. My parents didn't know what to do with me, so somehow OFC just came up and before I knew it, I was in the program.
What are the major differences between OFC and mainstream BHS?
Umm, the major difference between OFC and regular BHS is the issue of freedom. At times I feel as though I'm a prisoner and have no "get-out of jail" free card. I liked the freedom I had in the regular system and wish I didn't have to be in this program. And you are in the same classes with the same people for hours and it can get annoying at times.
So I guess I don't need to ask which system you like better: OFC or reg. BHS?
Haha. Definitely regular BHS. I have so much more freedom.
Are you trying to get out of OFC?
Yeah. I really want to go back to the regular BHS, but my parents think this is the right program for me. They still don't completely trust me and stuff and this OFC is helping me get back on track and helping me do better in school and stuff. But this is my last year in high school, so I mean it really doesn't matter at this point. Just going to finish out high school strong.
Have you gotten better academically - grades and GPA wise?
Yeah I have. I did good in high school freshman year - had a B- GPA. Then sophomore year I messed up a lot and it dropped a lot. Got too many D's and E's. But OFC has helped raised my GPA, right now I'm a 3. something. The work is a lot easier and stuff. And because we only study one thing at a time, it's easier to learn the stuff better.
Do you know people who have left OFC and returned back to the mainstream? If so, how are they doing?
I do. One of my good friends left a couple years ago. I'm not sure how he's doing academically really, but he seems mad happy and seems to be enjoying regular BHS. He always talks about how he's really happy that he got out of OFC. He didn't really like it here.
Do you have any plans for after high school? College, job? Do you think OFC has helped you with preparing for things like this?
I want to go to college after high school. Not really sure where though, but no where far. A lot of OFC grads go to UMASS schools, so I will probably go to one of these. Not sure what I want to do for a career, I'm still thinking about this. And I guess OFC has helped with preparing me. My GPA is better, so this helps when applying for college. I did focus a lot more on my studies when I got put in OFC too. S I guess it's helped me..
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Interview with Mr. Poon - Head of OFC
I had an interview with Mr. Poon, the head of the Opportunity for Change Program. I asked him the same questions I asked the OFC Guidance Counselor.
These are his responses:
1. How many students are in OFC?
Currently there are 40 students but we can have up to 48 students.
2. What are some of the reason these students are selected into the
program? What is/are the missions/goals of this program?
The main reasons students come to OFC are attendence and homework
production. Often my kids have trouble getting to class and doing
homework on a consistent basis.The mission of the program is to support
students who have not been succesful in the mainstream of the High School
to graduate and to prepare them for life after BHS. That often means
preparing kids to apply to college, but it can also mean post-secondary
programs or work.
3. What are the average GPA's of the students?
I don't know. We don't track that.
4. What are the average SAT and ACT scores for OFC students?
Same.
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to and getting accepted to?
Our students often apply to local community colleges. Some other students
go to UMASS Boston or UMass Dartmouth. We currently have students at
Northeastern and UMass Amhearst.
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum on?
OFC students take electives in the mainstream during A and B block. Then
they come to OFC and take one major class (English, Social Studies,
Science, Math) at a time for a two week period. The students have two
long blocks during the day separated by breaks, lunch, Arts Class, and
Health and Fitness.
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough in school work and
homework outside of school?
Yes. I think the fact of the matter is that the students in OFC weren't
doing much work in the mainstream so we attempt to provide them with
enough material so that they are at once challenged and they can complete
it. We provide time within the day to begin homework and some finish
while others take work home.
8. Overall, do you feel that this program prepares these students for life
beyond high-school?
That's a hard question. I'd like to think that we do, but we also
struggle inculcate our students with all of the habits they will need to
be succesful after OFC. Many of the reasons why they came to OFC in the
first place, whether they be personal habits or home issues, usually still
exist when they leave. That said, I have absolute clarity that without
OFC, many if not most of our students would not graduate and they would be
even less prepared had they not earned a BHS diploma with our help.
9. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
OFC students go into a variety of positions. I have been in contact with
kids who have gone into health related fields as well as early education.
Some of our former students are doing odd jobs. We have former students
that have gone into the military.
10. Anything else you'd like to add that proves the effectiveness of theOFC program?
Over the last four years we have graduated over 40 students. Of that
group, all applied and were accepted to some post-secondary program. We
don't have data on how many have matriculated or finished their schooling.
I would suspect that most have attended some college,but few have
finished at this time. In terms of the effectiveness of OFC, I would
direct you to speak with some of our students and graduates. Ask them
where they would be without OFC. In some ways it is difficult to quantify
success through numbers although I am proud of our numbers. I think the
stories of the kids that have survived through to graduation do a better
job of explaining what OFC is and who we are.
These are his responses:
1. How many students are in OFC?
Currently there are 40 students but we can have up to 48 students.
2. What are some of the reason these students are selected into the
program? What is/are the missions/goals of this program?
The main reasons students come to OFC are attendence and homework
production. Often my kids have trouble getting to class and doing
homework on a consistent basis.The mission of the program is to support
students who have not been succesful in the mainstream of the High School
to graduate and to prepare them for life after BHS. That often means
preparing kids to apply to college, but it can also mean post-secondary
programs or work.
3. What are the average GPA's of the students?
I don't know. We don't track that.
4. What are the average SAT and ACT scores for OFC students?
Same.
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to and getting accepted to?
Our students often apply to local community colleges. Some other students
go to UMASS Boston or UMass Dartmouth. We currently have students at
Northeastern and UMass Amhearst.
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum on?
OFC students take electives in the mainstream during A and B block. Then
they come to OFC and take one major class (English, Social Studies,
Science, Math) at a time for a two week period. The students have two
long blocks during the day separated by breaks, lunch, Arts Class, and
Health and Fitness.
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough in school work and
homework outside of school?
Yes. I think the fact of the matter is that the students in OFC weren't
doing much work in the mainstream so we attempt to provide them with
enough material so that they are at once challenged and they can complete
it. We provide time within the day to begin homework and some finish
while others take work home.
8. Overall, do you feel that this program prepares these students for life
beyond high-school?
That's a hard question. I'd like to think that we do, but we also
struggle inculcate our students with all of the habits they will need to
be succesful after OFC. Many of the reasons why they came to OFC in the
first place, whether they be personal habits or home issues, usually still
exist when they leave. That said, I have absolute clarity that without
OFC, many if not most of our students would not graduate and they would be
even less prepared had they not earned a BHS diploma with our help.
9. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
OFC students go into a variety of positions. I have been in contact with
kids who have gone into health related fields as well as early education.
Some of our former students are doing odd jobs. We have former students
that have gone into the military.
10. Anything else you'd like to add that proves the effectiveness of the
Over the last four years we have graduated over 40 students. Of that
group, all applied and were accepted to some post-secondary program. We
don't have data on how many have matriculated or finished their schooling.
I would suspect that most have attended some college,but few have
finished at this time. In terms of the effectiveness of OFC, I would
direct you to speak with some of our students and graduates. Ask them
where they would be without OFC. In some ways it is difficult to quantify
success through numbers although I am proud of our numbers. I think the
stories of the kids that have survived through to graduation do a better
job of explaining what OFC is and who we are.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Interview with OFC Guidence Counselor - Ms. Mantzaris Thomas
I sat down with Ms. Mantzaris during a free block in her office and asked her these questions. In the room with us was also a intern student, who wants to be an OFC teacher.
1. How many students are in OFC currently?
There are 48 total. 12 per class. We do not accept freshmen. One sophomore class, one junior class and two senior classes.
2. What are some of the reasons these students are selected into the program? What is/are the missions/goals of this program?
These students are in the program because they were not successful in the mainstream system. This is due largely to a lack of structure at home. OFC students frequently skipped classes (or school) and didn't complete their regular homework assignments. The goals of this program are to instill better study habits for a potential success in the mainstream high school if they wanted to return back. The initial purpose of the OFC program was to get these students to graduate and not become a drop-out, but this mindset has shifted into being ready for the next step after high school.
3. What is the average GPA of the OFC students?
2.0-2.5 (GPA that includes OFC and regular high school grades) or
3.0 (only calculating OFC grades)
4. What is the average SAT or ACT scores of OFC students?
Around a 1200 total (includes all 3 sections. Approx. 400 per section). SAT Testing are not the students strongest academic strengths.
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to/ getting accepted into?
OFC students tend to apply close to home. Schools such as UMASS Dartmouth and Boston are popular schools of interest. Other local schools such as Curry College and Newbery are popular as well. We try to get them to leave the state and travel, a few have done this, but nearly all students who left the state came back within months.
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum like?
OFC students only focus on one subject at a time. (Math, History, English, Science) Every two weeks they switch topics and study another topic for the next two weeks. Because of this switch, not much curriculum is covered in a total school year. Many times lessons are review and repetition of what they leaned 6 weeks before hand. It is like a summer vacation - we forget a lot of what we learned a month or more later and need to get a lot of review in. A and B blocks are considered their "free" time. They are allowed to take electives and other academic classes that interest them.
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough schoolwork and homework daily?
Yes. I do think they get enough work. Because they study only one subject at a time, in school they spend 5-6 hours/day only doing math or science , etc. That's a lot of work for only one subject! Homework is assigned daily and they receive normally 45mins-1hr of homework/night.
8. Do OFC students often go back to the mainstream BHS schooling system? Are they successful? What are reasons students may leave OFC?
Around 15% of students return to the regular system in BHS. Of that, roughly 50% are successful in the mainstream. The typical reasons students would ever leave OFC are because of their good grades in this program and determination to do well in the regular schooling system, they are not doing well in OFC and are asked to leave the program and finally just because the student wants to leave.
9. Overall do you feel that OFC is preparing students for life beyond high school?
Over the last few years, I feel as though the program has been doing a better job with this. We try to instill and teach life skills such as being able to work in the work force, how to get good housing and going to college. But we can always get better, there is always room for improvement.
10. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
Of the ones I have kept in close contact with, they have gotten jobs with the police/fire department, teaching jobs and medical technicians jobs (with doctors and dentists).
11. Is there anything else you would like to add that proves to the effectiveness of the OFC program?
I've been here for 6 years as a counselor and honestly I have gotten much positive feedback from former students. Because we're with these kids so much in a small environment, we can't help but bond with them and get very personal relationships. Many students return back to BHS and tell me how this program helped shaped their lives and played such an essential role in their success. They liked the structure of the program and how the teachers helped make sure that they stayed on track. I still keep in very close contact with many graduates and this just shows how much OFC is doing in students lives.
1. How many students are in OFC currently?
There are 48 total. 12 per class. We do not accept freshmen. One sophomore class, one junior class and two senior classes.
2. What are some of the reasons these students are selected into the program? What is/are the missions/goals of this program?
These students are in the program because they were not successful in the mainstream system. This is due largely to a lack of structure at home. OFC students frequently skipped classes (or school) and didn't complete their regular homework assignments. The goals of this program are to instill better study habits for a potential success in the mainstream high school if they wanted to return back. The initial purpose of the OFC program was to get these students to graduate and not become a drop-out, but this mindset has shifted into being ready for the next step after high school.
3. What is the average GPA of the OFC students?
2.0-2.5 (GPA that includes OFC and regular high school grades) or
3.0 (only calculating OFC grades)
4. What is the average SAT or ACT scores of OFC students?
Around a 1200 total (includes all 3 sections. Approx. 400 per section). SAT Testing are not the students strongest academic strengths.
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to/ getting accepted into?
OFC students tend to apply close to home. Schools such as UMASS Dartmouth and Boston are popular schools of interest. Other local schools such as Curry College and Newbery are popular as well. We try to get them to leave the state and travel, a few have done this, but nearly all students who left the state came back within months.
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum like?
OFC students only focus on one subject at a time. (Math, History, English, Science) Every two weeks they switch topics and study another topic for the next two weeks. Because of this switch, not much curriculum is covered in a total school year. Many times lessons are review and repetition of what they leaned 6 weeks before hand. It is like a summer vacation - we forget a lot of what we learned a month or more later and need to get a lot of review in. A and B blocks are considered their "free" time. They are allowed to take electives and other academic classes that interest them.
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough schoolwork and homework daily?
Yes. I do think they get enough work. Because they study only one subject at a time, in school they spend 5-6 hours/day only doing math or science , etc. That's a lot of work for only one subject! Homework is assigned daily and they receive normally 45mins-1hr of homework/night.
8. Do OFC students often go back to the mainstream BHS schooling system? Are they successful? What are reasons students may leave OFC?
Around 15% of students return to the regular system in BHS. Of that, roughly 50% are successful in the mainstream. The typical reasons students would ever leave OFC are because of their good grades in this program and determination to do well in the regular schooling system, they are not doing well in OFC and are asked to leave the program and finally just because the student wants to leave.
9. Overall do you feel that OFC is preparing students for life beyond high school?
Over the last few years, I feel as though the program has been doing a better job with this. We try to instill and teach life skills such as being able to work in the work force, how to get good housing and going to college. But we can always get better, there is always room for improvement.
10. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
Of the ones I have kept in close contact with, they have gotten jobs with the police/fire department, teaching jobs and medical technicians jobs (with doctors and dentists).
11. Is there anything else you would like to add that proves to the effectiveness of the OFC program?
I've been here for 6 years as a counselor and honestly I have gotten much positive feedback from former students. Because we're with these kids so much in a small environment, we can't help but bond with them and get very personal relationships. Many students return back to BHS and tell me how this program helped shaped their lives and played such an essential role in their success. They liked the structure of the program and how the teachers helped make sure that they stayed on track. I still keep in very close contact with many graduates and this just shows how much OFC is doing in students lives.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Questioning the authorities
This past Friday I emailed Mr. Poon, Ms. Mantaris, and the three teachers who teach for the OFC program. The email I sent to Ms. Mantaris (possibly I have the wrong email) get sent back to me, but the others went through fine. I am still waiting for their responses, but each of the emails sent went something like this:
Hello All! My name is Kayla Cody and I am a senior at BHS. I am in Mr. Ficher's B-Block Public Speaking and Writing Class this year. We were given an assignment to find a problem or potential problem in BHS and answer the question or find possible solutions. I chose to do my project on the effectiveness of the Opportunity for Change Program. I was wondering if you could possibly answer a few questions for me about OFC:
1. How many students are in OFC?
2. What are some of the reason these students are selected into the program? What is/are the missons/goals of this program?
3. What are the average GPA's of the students?
4. What are the average SAT and ACT scores for OFC students?
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to and getting accepted to?
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum on?
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough in school work and homework outside of school?
8. Overall, do you feel that this program prepares these students for life beyond high-school?
9. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
10. Anything else you'd like to add that proves the effectiveness of the OFC program.
If you don't feel comfortable answering these questions online, I would feel fine interviewing you in person whenever you are available. I have free E-Block on Wednesday and Friday.
With sincere appreciation,
Kayla Cody
I hope to get the answers to these questions soon , weather through email or personal interviews.
I plan on interviewing a few OFC students as well for their input.
Hello All! My name is Kayla Cody and I am a senior at BHS. I am in Mr. Ficher's B-Block Public Speaking and Writing Class this year. We were given an assignment to find a problem or potential problem in BHS and answer the question or find possible solutions. I chose to do my project on the effectiveness of the Opportunity for Change Program. I was wondering if you could possibly answer a few questions for me about OFC:
1. How many students are in OFC?
2. What are some of the reason these students are selected into the program? What is/are the missons/goals of this program?
3. What are the average GPA's of the students?
4. What are the average SAT and ACT scores for OFC students?
5. What colleges are OFC students applying to and getting accepted to?
6. What is the basic structure of the program and what is the curriculum on?
7. In your opinion, do OFC students get/do enough in school work and homework outside of school?
8. Overall, do you feel that this program prepares these students for life beyond high-school?
9. What job opportunities have previous OFC graduates obtained?
10. Anything else you'd like to add that proves the effectiveness of the OFC program.
If you don't feel comfortable answering these questions online, I would feel fine interviewing you in person whenever you are available. I have free E-Block on Wednesday and Friday.
With sincere appreciation,
Kayla Cody
I hope to get the answers to these questions soon , weather through email or personal interviews.
I plan on interviewing a few OFC students as well for their input.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
How does mainstream BHS view OFC?
When I was a freshman at BHS, OFC was considered the place where "bad" kids were sent. No one desired to be in OFC and it was considered somewhat a punishment for bad behavior in school, skipping multiple classes or failing multiple classes on account of incomplete homework assignments and low test grades. If put in this program, you were removed from all your friends and isolated from regular BHS life.
In the past couple of years, I have noticed that kids somewhat want to be in the OFC program and purposely don't do their work because OFC is a "fall-back" option. They figure that if they skip classes and don't put effort into their assignments that they'll just be placed in OFC, where the workload is easier and academics are much less stressful overall.
This mentality about OFC is new and many people (like myself) haven't been taken over by the force. I talk to many people who think that OFC is not helping these kids, but simply pushing them though high school with good grades and GPAs. I heard that they don't have to take mid-years or finals, like the entirety of the school has to do. I have also heard that they get periodic "breaks" in between classes - something that no one else in the high school has.
I'd like to make a possible survey to ask what the regular mainstream BHS thinks about the OFC program. How effective is it? Teachers and students will be targeted and it will be simple and brief.
"From what you have heard or facts you know about the OFC program, how much do you think OFC is preparing students for college life or beyond high school?"
a. Not at all
b. Somewhat
c. Fully preparing them for post- high school
In the past couple of years, I have noticed that kids somewhat want to be in the OFC program and purposely don't do their work because OFC is a "fall-back" option. They figure that if they skip classes and don't put effort into their assignments that they'll just be placed in OFC, where the workload is easier and academics are much less stressful overall.
This mentality about OFC is new and many people (like myself) haven't been taken over by the force. I talk to many people who think that OFC is not helping these kids, but simply pushing them though high school with good grades and GPAs. I heard that they don't have to take mid-years or finals, like the entirety of the school has to do. I have also heard that they get periodic "breaks" in between classes - something that no one else in the high school has.
I'd like to make a possible survey to ask what the regular mainstream BHS thinks about the OFC program. How effective is it? Teachers and students will be targeted and it will be simple and brief.
"From what you have heard or facts you know about the OFC program, how much do you think OFC is preparing students for college life or beyond high school?"
a. Not at all
b. Somewhat
c. Fully preparing them for post- high school
Friday, September 17, 2010
OFC - Is it really useful?
Is OFC actually preparing students for the real world? How is life after high school for these students? Do they continue on to a higher degree of learning (college)? Are they capable of obtaining high-paying jobs and professions? What life skills are they being taught, if any? All students seem to graduate with a 4.0 GPA and in recent years, students seem to AIM at being in OFC because of the easy workload and light requirements. They seem, to somewhat "slip" through the cracks of high school or simply drop out of school all together because of lack focus and motovation. This program is supposed to help students stay in high school, but it's not properly preparing these kids for college.
I will talk to OFC students, Mr. Poon, Dr. Bob, Guidence Counslers, Deans, OFC teachers, and regular mainstream BHS teachers.
I would like to see SAT scores and MCAS scores from OFC students and compare to regular students.
I would like to see where OFC graduates have attended college and how successful they are in life overall.
I will talk to OFC students, Mr. Poon, Dr. Bob, Guidence Counslers, Deans, OFC teachers, and regular mainstream BHS teachers.
I would like to see SAT scores and MCAS scores from OFC students and compare to regular students.
I would like to see where OFC graduates have attended college and how successful they are in life overall.
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