Freshmen orientation program laying the foundation for a smooth transition at the Charter School of Wilmington
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Preparing students to be successful in their high school begins with their freshmen orientation program. Incoming Charter School of Wilmington (CSW) freshmen struggle to adjust to the demands of the curricula, learn the various technologies, establish new social relationships and navigate around their new school building. The CSW Freshmen Orientation Program (FOP) is implemented in the Fall of every school year. ☐ This ELP provides recommendations for improving the FOP. Through continued analysis of the program via input from stakeholders, the FOP has the potential to assist CSW freshmen during their transition to high school thereby increasing their success in high school. ☐ This portfolio examines the evolution of the CSW FOP and the rationale for any changes that were made. In 2016-2017, I did a problem analysis for the existing FOP, used literature to revise the FOP curriculum, created and implemented a pilot FOP and did a program review of the new FOP. In 2018, I conducted a needs assessment of incoming freshmen and used the data to update the FOP. I surveyed local school administrators to learn what they do to help their freshmen students, identified practices that might help CSW freshmen, and then provided recommendations in a presentation for CSW school administrators. I created online mentor training modules, using the platform of Schoology, for the senior mentors. I created a FOP website for stakeholders. ☐ I used a number of instruments to determine if my improvement strategies were successful. In 2016, I conducted surveys and focus groups of stakeholders regarding the initial FOP. In 2017, after the implementation of the pilot FOP, I surveyed participants to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses. In 2018, I collected data from incoming freshmen, created an infographic of their needs, and shared findings with CSW staff. In 2018, I surveyed local school administrators to identify practices and conducted a presentation of findings and recommendations for CSW administrators. In 2018, I used pre-survey and post-survey questions in conjunction with a pilot mentoring program to judge the efficacy of the training modules. ☐ The data analysis of the freshmen needs assessment showed that there were common concerns among the incoming freshmen. This information was used to redesign the FOP. My analysis of the administrator data indicated that CSW is doing many of the same things as local schools but that there are additional things that we can implement to help the freshmen transition to our school. Overall, the analyses from the online mentoring module showed that training can help mentors be more successful. ☐ My recommendations to CSW are as follows: ☐ (1) Update the FOP workshops by (a) increasing opportunities for freshmen to explore the building, network, and engage in team-building; (b) offering technology sessions that are differentiated based on the students’ prior knowledge; and (c) reducing the amount of time for workshops involving school policies. ☐ (2) Investigate the interest/feasibility of adding class photos and/or cap & gown pictures. ☐ (3) Modify the mentor training program to include (a) online training that is administered in person and (b) higher interest videos for the participants.