PCHS Academy is a credit recovery program that is here to help students who were severely credit deficient due to a multitude of different reasons in both their academic and/or personal lives.
“Why they’re behind is individually their story, but we wanted this 1st year for all students who were [going to] be asked to participate or if they got offered a spot, that they [would know] that they would have that same thing in common,” Associate Principal Michelle Howren said.
Having worked in different micro and alternative schools, prior to being here at Platte County, Associate Principal Howren wanted to create something that can help students she saw struggling with their credits, classes, and personal situations.So, she created a new system of credit recovery being the PCHS Academy.
“I started making suggestions that we need to create other learning opportunities for kids to be able to be a part of, whether that’s advising them to maybe be part of this academy setting or eventually growing it to where kids can see that they might need something different,” Howren said.
The students at the academy have had academic struggles whether it was due to a personal situation or just something out of their control, they have been able to adapt and thrive in the academy setting.
“There is no way that I would have been able to be where I am at now if I had stayed in the main building,” junior Ciliana Furnari said. “I am ahead of credits now [to] the point I have more credits than [most of] the kids in the main high school, and there was absolutely no way that I would have been able to do that without this program. I am so thankful for Mrs. Howren for bringing this up, creating it, and pushing for it with the district and the board.”
The students in the academy are often perceived negatively because of their action, but in reality they are there for a multitude of different reasons in their personal lives and not just their school lives. Outside of the school walls, everyone has a life that is important to them a life that is theirs to lead how they choose even if it doesn’t go the way it’s expected.
“I think people’s first opinion about it, or if they don’t know anything, they think it’s bad kids. These aren’t bad kids,” Chelsi Mawhirter, PCHS academy teacher said “They just are kids who need a second chance”.
The academy students are really just there to do better both in and outside the classroom with this new style as this is the first year anything like this type of credit recovery program has been offered at Platte County High School
“None of us are in there for what we have gotten in trouble, for any behavior thing, Furnari said.. “We’re all in there just because of credits. And a lot of us in there, like, we do we get along so well, and it is of course, we do our work, but it is so fun.”
The students also have a very individualized learning style, specific to them. Mawhirter will usually say “This announcement is for English 2,” then do her notes with them, then switch to English 3 for the students who are taking that level.
“The learning style is exactly what I thrive in, and I wouldn’t change anything about the way I’m learning,” Furnari said.
Because of the small class sizes, students at the academy are able to build a strong sense of community that they couldn’t get by being in the main building.
“They’re like a family, you know who supports one another,” Howren said. “I do believe [that we’re witnessing] a culture come out of it where they’re a lot more supportive, and trying to get each other to accomplish why they’re there.”
As for the social aspects, some students were definitely not thrilled about missing out on the social aspects of traditional high school life, but even though the students do miss passing periods where they would see their friends in the halls, but those moments are more than made up for during sporting events, assemblies, and especially Friday night football games.
“You know, there were certainly some students who were worried obviously about missing out on the social aspects of school,” Howren said.
Despite the perception, Furnari is still able to keep up with her social life even though she’s not in the traditional high school setting. Furnari was also lucky enough to have caring friends that understood she needed to recover her credits, while still including her in things out of school so they could experience their senior year together.
“Being in the academy doesn’t keep you from doing any sports or being in any clubs, so I’m still able to go to Young Life, which I do. I still go out to every single football game. I love that. I always look forward to Fridays, I’m still a part of everything. I keep up with all my friends. I hang out with them every weekend and after school. So I have kept the social part of my life still alive, and I love that,” Furnari said.
