The Phoenix Program is now completing our sixth year as the alternative high school for the Barre Supervisory Union. Parent and student involvement with Phoenix has never been better and it is not uncommon for community members to stop by and offer help in educating our students. Our mid-year graduation has become a highlight for Phoenix families and was covered nicely by The Times Argus this past January.
The trend of The Phoenix Program working with expectant mothers is continuing and included three new mothers this school year. I am also pleased to announce that the substance abuse rate we have encountered in the past is continuing its steady decline.
School districts from around Vermont are still calling to come and visit and inquiring as to “how we do it.” BFA St. Albans and Northfield High School are two school systems working hard at adopting our “model.”
Please see below for a statistical review of the 2003-04 school
year:
| Total Population Served: | 30 |
| Graduated with Class of 2004: | 20 |
| Entered G.E.D. Program: | 0 |
| Moved from district: | 1 |
| Removed from program: | 3 |
| Returned to Spaulding: | 1 |
| Returning students: | 5 |
Please Note:
· S.B. Electronics and the Phoenix Program (through Production Manager William Gagne) have teamed up to provide student employees for the company. Thus far both the company and the school are pleased with the results.
· 12 of this year’s 20 graduates had dropped out of school and will now graduate.
· All 20 graduates needed Phoenix to complete high school.
· The selection committee met in late May to add new students
for next year.