Half Hollow Hills Rising Stars Academy Navigates Orienteering Activity

The Rising Stars Academy at Half Hollow Hills Central School District, a group of high achieving, diverse middle school students making the transition to sixth grade, went on an orienteering activity today to help hone the skills necessary for teamwork and cooperation. This kick-off activity for their summer program was the first of its kind for the group, and took place at Half Hollow Hills High School West under the guidance of Mike Gibbons, a physical education teacher at the high school, who specializes in outdoor activities.

Students in the academy had to work in small groups to complete the orienteering task, which was similar to a scavenger hunt that relied on their ability to navigate the course with maps and compasses. “The concept of small group orienteering really works well with groups like the Rising Stars to help them develop a proficiency in cooperation and teamwork,” said Gibbons.

Founded in 2004, the Rising Stars Academy takes a core group of high achieving ethnically diverse 6th graders and works with them to assist in their transition to middle school, particularly focusing on academic success and school community involvement.

“Each summer we welcome a new cohort of 6th graders who are rising stars to participate in this program that helps them learn personal responsibility, how to overcome obstacles, and ultimately become a community of achievers,” said Rick Keller, the consultant who leads the program at Half Hollow Hills. “This year’s orienteering activity really helped reinforce many of the key goals we covered with them in the academy, including how to work successfully with others and develop strong listening strategies.”

According to Ronald Ferguson, Ph.D., a senior lecturer at Harvard University and expert on the factors that affect educational achievement, it wasn’t until recently that racial and ethnic achievement disparities in elite suburban school districts were openly discussed in public. One of the most interesting findings of Ferguson’s work was the distinctive importance of teacher encouragement as a reported source of motivation. The Rising Stars Academy addresses the need for teacher encouragement through a strong focus on connections not only to peers, but to the faculty working with them.

Keller added, “We pair teachers and mentors with the students to form an allegiance of support and friendship that continues throughout the middle school years following the academy experience.”

An education-oriented community with high academic expectations, the Half Hollow Hills Central School District is located in a residential area of 50,000 people in the central part of Long Island, approximately 40 miles from New York City. Providing for the education of approximately 8,400 students, the school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Half Hollow Hills High Schools are fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The District is committed to providing students opportunities to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts.