“What would I change if I were Mr. Krehlik?” This is the question a ninth grader asks him or herself for a speech in Mr. Fenton’s 9th grade speech class. Every year multiple students say they would like the 9th graders to be treated like high school students at the senior high.
A schedule change that will allow the 9th graders to become a part of the high school is now becoming a reality. In 16-17, GLSD plans to switch the ninth graders time schedule to match that of the high school. The school board has been developing the plan to meet the ninth graders’ needs and wants, as faculty, parents and students have brought up valid reasons why the 9th graders should be apart of the high school. “Student body considerably impacted this decision. We listen to our students,” said Mr. Krehlik, junior high principal.
Next year the time schedule change will go into effect, after five students, parents, faculty and administration discussed this change at an earlier Committee of the Whole school board meeting. The board approved this change on Tuesday, March 15. Although there are many difficulties in making this change, Mr. LoCascio, senior high principal, assures that it is “our goal to work through the process” and make the transition.
The school board’s intentions are to integrate the 9th graders into the high school. Most schools in this area have 9th to 12th graders all in one building; whereas, currently at Greater Latrobe the 9th graders are separated with 7th to 9th graders in one building and 10th to 12th graders in another. This cuts off ninth graders from the “real” high school and can provide some problems when ninth graders play sports or take classes at the senior high.
LoCascio says that the school board “wants them to feel apart of the high school experience.” Their goal is to give ninth graders as many opportunities as they can to be involved in the high school, including academic classes, dances, activities, clubs, and sports; although these details are still being discussed.
Overall, a major factor for pushing this change was that the high school transcript starts in ninth grade. “This year counts,” said Krehlik. A student’s high school GPA starts in 9th grade, but many do not feel that this is the first year that grades really count because of being at the junior high.
Krehlik has been pushing for the ninth graders to be more integrated into the high school. He said he sees it as an “opportunity to amp up rigor to raise expectations and inspire them to understand or realize that this counts, that someone will look at your transcript and it starts here.” High school graduation requirements as well as the QPA begin to be accrued as a freshman.
As much as the academics push the move, the ninth grader feels disconnected from the rest of the high school by getting out of school at a later time, which disconnects from after school activities. The upcoming ninth graders will come in on senior high busses and begin classes at the senior high at the same time as the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They will not have lockers at the senior high, but will be based at the junior high where they will spend an ample amount of their day. “Students will spend part of day in senior high, part in the junior high,” said Krehlik.
Current 8th graders seem to be excited about becoming apart of the high school next year. Incoming freshman Justin Watkins said, “I think it would be a great experience to be in the high school when I am in 9th grade.” By integrating the 9th graders into the senior high this give them a chance to take high school classes as well as be involved socially with the rest of the high school by being allowed to attend school dances and Polarpalooza as well as cheer in the Den during sporting events.
Watkins said he would be excited to attend homecoming. “We never had big dances in the junior high, so it will be cool,” said Watkins. Although it has not been confirmed yet by the administration if the 9th graders will attend the senior high dances or “senior high” activities, it is their hope to “give them as many opportunities as they can,” LoCascio said.
By changing the ninth graders’ time schedule to match that of the senior high, freshmen will be able feel more a part of the high school as they begin their high school journey with documented transcripts. All the details for the change have yet to be set-in-stone as this is an evolving plan. “A move like this not just simple time change, there’s definitely a lot more movement to it,” said Krehlik.