L-W Central Students Engaged in Drive for 25

Photo: Over 200 L-W Central High School juniors have been busy before and after school starting from September 3 to March 3; getting help and preparation for the ACT exam from their high school teachers. Students attending include (LEFT to RIGHT) Blake Locenki, Zach Rudsinski, Nolan Hayes and Jena Schneider.

Wednesdays are busy before and after school for many students at Lincoln-Way Central High School. Over 200 students are coming in early and/or staying after school to learn strategies and practice taking the ACT exam.

“This is the second year for the program, Drive for 25. Lincoln-Way teachers have been volunteering in all subject areas. Teachers have been volunteering over the last six years to prepare the students for the reading portion of the ACT test. This year teachers from science, English, math, reading and writing have all been taking time to help prepare our students by joining us either before or after school,” stated Marty Dykas, department chair for social science.

Students began attending the special work sessions on Wednesday, September 3 and will complete the session on March 3, ACT test day. Before school sessions run from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.; after school sessions run from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

“Each student began the session by coming to school on a Saturday to take a practice ACT exam to get a base measure of what they needed to work on,” stated Tom Finnegan, social science teacher.

“The social science department has helped with the reading portion of the ACT prep. The program is designed to help students understand test-like questions, create strategies, and then practice those strategies by using retired ACT tests,” added Dykas.

Junior Nolan Hayes has attended most sessions before school. He stated he has liked the sessions, and it has helped him prepare for the ACT test.

“The effort by our students and teachers is in its second year of Drive for 25 program. Outside of room E206 in the social science hallway we have created an honor wall for those students who scored a 25 or higher on the reading portion of the ACT test,” noted Dykas.

The purpose of the Drive for 25 Wall is twofold, states Dykas, “We want to give recognition for the hard work of last year’s students, and we want to provide a goal for those students heading into the test this year.”

Jena Schneider, junior, said she has really learned a lot from the reading sessions. “The reading has really helped me,” she said.

This past week, over 200 students who have been attending the ACT prep class for the morning/afternoon work sessions were given black t-shirts with “When Opportunity Knocks” on the front and “Open the Door – Drive for 25” on the back.

Zach Rudsinski, junior, thanked the teachers for their help.

“Every teacher is here to help us,” he said. 

Blake Kocenko, also a junior, stated the sessions were “really worth his time. This is a big test and the sessions are very helpful.”