Seven Old Rochester Regional High School students that attended the Project Contemporary Competitiveness program all had at least one thing in common – they said it changed their lives for the better.
The students gave a short presentation highlighting their experiences at PCC, a six-week advanced studies residential program at Stonehill College in Easton for students grade eight to nine – and this year grade ten as well – on October 8 before the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.
The 2014 PCC program ran from June 9 to August 9. Students chose two courses of focus from a diverse course catalog with a wide range of engaging topics in science, humanities, the arts, music, psychology, and technology.
Sophomore Mary Roussell said the program went above and beyond her expectations, adding that it was “everything she hoped for and more,” promising her peers that if they participated in the program next year, “it will be the best time of your whole life.” She also went on about how good the food was there.
“You never feel like you’re wasting your time. You’re always having fun,” said Roussell. “I would not be the person I am today if I didn’t attend.”
Nicole Ochoa said the program helped her with her struggle with anxiety, despite having dreaded the first day and wishing she did not have to attend.
“It showed me that I shouldn’t be afraid of new things,” said Ochoa, who took forensic science and drawing. “The last week was horrible for me. I didn’t want to leave.”
Avery Nugent thinks his freshman year at ORR would have been “a lot different” had he not attended the program, and Erin Burk said she learned that one can make friends in any given situation.
“Everyone accepts you there,” said Molly Richards. “And you make a lot of new friends.”
Abigail Johnson chose TV production and web design, saying she was able to make a movie and create a website of her own.
“It changed everything for me,” Johnson said. “I’ve learned to be more comfortable with myself … and learn to accept others.”
Superintendent Doug White said ORR is one of only 21 school districts that participate in the PCC program. He is unsure at this time if the program will again extend the opportunity to students entering tenth grade.
In other news, ORR may change the way it conducts its School Choice program lottery, deciding to now hold the lottery earlier in the year rather than later so families know ahead of time before placing their kids in private or vocational schools.
ORR High School Principal Michael Devoll said by the time the school holds the lottery in June, families have already “put their eggs in other baskets” rather than waiting to hear if their child has won a school choice slot at ORR.
“They’re just not interested in transferring [at this point] and I don’t blame them,” said Devoll.
This year, only three of the 11 available school choice slots were filled by July 1 and, with one empty slot still available, Devoll said he is at the end of the waiting list. There were 40 applications last year to fill the 2014/2015 school year slots.
Devoll proposed holding the lottery in March or April instead of June.
White said that holding the lottery earlier might affect budget season planning for the following fiscal year since funds from school choice are included as revenue within the budget. White said he would forward the new policy to the Policy Subcommittee for review.
In other matters, the lines in the ORR cafeteria might move a little bit quicker with a new policy that will create separate lines for students paying with cash and those buying lunch with their prepaid student lunch accounts.
Director of Food Services Caitlin Meagher will try designating two of the four lines to prepaid accounts only, hoping the prepaid lines will move faster and encourage other families to switch to the prepaid account system.
Meagher said she polled students, asking them their reasons for not participating in the school lunch program.
“The length of the lines was the number one answer,” said Meagher.
According to Meagher, roughly half the students participating in the program have prepaid accounts. Meagher also said that the school recommends at least 20 minutes of sit down time for students to eat their lunches, which can be difficult sometimes given the length of the lines.
“The hope is to see that speeds things up,” said Meagher of the new policy.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee is scheduled for November 12 at 6:00 pm in the ORR Media Room.
By Jean Perry
