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PACE is a two-week transition and orientation
program for students new to Bartlett
High School and the Anchorage School
District and who enroll after the beginning
of the school year. Under the direction
of
Tanya Gularte, Assistant Principal of
Curriculum, the program is specifically
designed to provide transitioning students
with resources, information and support
to
ease the change to a new school. It consists
of six sessions that can be completed
in a two-week time frame. Sessions include
a school tour, introduction to the Bartlett
High School community, dealing with
change and stress, and introduction to
Anchorage and the state of Alaska.
Since research indicates that students
learn most effectively from their peers,
Bartlett uses teen facilitators as presenters
for the new students. Leesa Wingo,
Teacher/Facilitator, oversees the Teen/Peer
Facilitators during each of the classes.
Brian
Griggs, Director of YESS, Youth Education
Support Services, acts as the liaison with
Ft.
Richardson and also facilitates some of
the
classroom sessions. Joseph Lamebull, one
of the teen/peer facilitator says, "The
PACE
program is a great opportunity for new
students
to become acquainted with our
school, city and our state. I know I would
find it more comforting with someone my
age welcoming me to a new school, rather
than an adult." Trista Mitchell, another
teen/peer facilitator, says, "As a teen
facilitator
in the PACE program, I got to meet new
students and introduce them to
Bartlett…and helped them to be comfortable
in a new surrounding …"
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Leesa Wingo, Teacher, Facilitator,
Bartlett High School
"As one of the facilitating teachers for
PACE, I was able to meet students who
were new to Alaska and hear their stories.
Many of the military students had moved
every two years, some had already attended
three high schools."
"One goal of PACE is to have
the students feel at home in Bartlett
as quickly as possible. Our peer facilitators
accomplished this through icebreakers,
team building activities, games and explorations."
"The PACE program is growing
into a quarter long class to be taught
by trained Teen Facilitators. This will
strengthen the
safety net and build stronger assets
for all
individuals."
Brian Griggs, YESS Director, Fort
Richardson
"In the development of transition
programs, the PACE program at Bartlett has
provided an opportunity to create and
improve transition strategies and curriculum.
The lessons learned and programs
developed by the team involved in this
project
will greatly assist other schools
in their
efforts to help transitioning students."
Diana Lloyd, Program Coordinator,
Bartlett High School
"The PACE program has provided
all transitioning students with a network
of
concerned adults and peers to
assist them
in their transition to Bartlett
High School.
Not only has PACE addressed the
emotional
and social needs of a transferring
student,
the program also addresses the
academic
needs of each student by ensuring
the smooth transfer of academic
records
from previous schools.
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