Upper Learning Successfully Launches Ninth Graders

by Head of Community Engagement Gordon Mathis

In 2019, Director of Student Life Felicia McCrary created an all-inclusive program called Freshman Launch to prepare students for success in high school. “The idea behind Freshman Launch is to provide a combined academic and cultural entry into Upper Learning,” she explains. To that end, Ms. McCrary supervises topics including discussions of academic integrity and what it means to be a student in UL.

All ninth graders are assigned a Freshman Launch class during their free period. The class is a combination of supervised study hall and introduction to the many programs in the school where teachers present about the school’s offerings. UL Guidance Counselor Silvette Bullard introduces the students to social and emotional learning practices and arranges the drug education presentation, Pathways2Life. Librarian Maureen Pierce teaches the students critical research skills and Learning Support Teacher Stephanie Strickland discusses organizational and executive function skills. French teacher Scottie Belfi also describes the many opportunities for clubs and extracurricular activities available to students. 

In addition, students learn how to navigate Canvas, the learning management system that all UL teachers use to post assignments. Students create portfolios that they will use throughout high school to organize their academic work. There is a Freshman Launch class every period of the day, staffed by teachers who have given up their planning period to work with ninth graders.

In the past, Ms. McCrary has also organized a freshman retreat to help the members of the class build a group identity. Due to the pandemic, she is planning a scaled-down version to occur potentially in the spring (pending current health recommendations).

Three months into the 2020-21 school year, our freshmen are well-launched into the world of Upper Learning!