STMHS Buzzes With Incoming Freshmen, LIFT Students

For most students, and their teachers, summer is a time to escape from a busy academic schedule. At the , however, two programs have been keeping the minds of kids and instructors active through the hot months.

The school begins the last of three one-week sessions of the Leaders Innovators For Tomorrow program today. Coinciding with the first session, which began on July 11, was the weeklong orientation for freshmen who will begin attending STMHS in the fall. Lou Allen, director of the school, said the sessions are usually held in June but were delayed this year after several snow days forced an extension of the school calendar.

“It’s kind of good in a way, because you get a lot more kids here,” he said.

For the LIFT program, students are housed at the dormitories at . Monday starts off with training in diversity, technology, and teamwork. Students spend the next day on Block Island, learning about wildlife habitats and other aspects of the destination. Another trip on Wednesday visits Hartford and takes in the Capitol as well as the Connecticut Science Center. Thursday includes a visit to STMHS and, as a way to cool off after a studious week, an afternoon at . Finally, students pack up and deliver presentations on the experience before an audience of family members on Friday.

Allen said most of the participants in LIFT have never been to an academic camp, or are rural residents entering a more urban area. He said these factors often lead to some reluctance or anxiety, but that the students are able to make quick progress. This, he noted, is reflected in journal entries students are required to make for their instructors. The question for Thursday, the last day of official events before students leave, is what they like the most (and will miss the most) about the camp.

“Nine times out of 10, they say, ‘We’re going to miss our new friends,’” said Allen.

When the second week closed, students took turns discussing various aspects of the program. They were allowed to come up with a creative name, choosing such monikers as “Froot Loops” and “Crazy Nice People.” The teams told about their personal favorite subjects, the importance of air pressure in rockets, the process of making cotton, and other topics.

Charity Hilliman, of Hartford, said she has an interest in chemistry and one of her teachers recommended the program to her. She said the trip to Block Island, which included interaction with various beach animals, was her favorite portion of the week.

“When I first got here, I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “I met a lot of new friends, and I like the counselors, and I think what we’re learning is very cool.”

Bharat Dhyani, of Norwich, found out about the program after his sister attended STMHS. He said he hopes to follow her to the school once he becomes a freshman.

“You’re ahead of the game if you’re going to high school,” he said. “They tell you what you need and what you don’t need.”

Freshmen Orientation

Allen said about 30 students were attending each LIFT session, while 70 took part in the freshmen orientation. He said at least 25 percent of the students taking part in LIFT will apply to go to STMHS after they complete eighth grade. These freshmen are strongly encouraged to join in the orientation, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. throughout the week. Laurelle Texidor, principal of the and an overseer of the orientation, said about 94 percent of the incoming class attended this year.

“The whole purpose is for them to experience the kind of instruction and programs as a magnet school freshman,” she said.

Incoming freshmen take an assessment to determine their strengths and weaknesses in math. They take part in some hands-on classroom activities, including making jewelry from recycled materials and designing and launching rockets. Texidor said the orientation also provides a good opportunity for students to meet with teachers, find out more about class schedules and credits, meet with the directors for extracurricular activities, and get to know one another.

Allen said he starts the orientation by telling the students that in joining the STMHS student body, they have “committed to do more than other students.” He said this mirrors what he told the graduating seniors this year, praising them for their accomplishments and setting high goals for themselves.

“If you fulfill those expectations, it almost becomes a tradition,” he said.

Though the LIFT program and freshmen orientation overlap in the use of the school building on one day, there is no formal discussion between the two groups. However, Allen said incoming freshmen often chat with the LIFT participants when they pass in the hall. He said there might be more of an interaction in the future.