Great Potential Program Teaches College Readiness and More at PKMS

Seventh grade students, Karina Roberts and Theresa Calabrese hadn’t given much thought to their college careers until they recently visited SUNY Purchase during the school’s College for a Day event. Now, not only do the girls know what to expect after high school, they are looking forward to it as well. 

The College for a Day event was just one of the many opportunities presented to students by Peekskill Middle School’s Great Potential Program, which is currently in its tenth year at PKMS, and has been serving Westchester for over two decades. The mission of the program aims to “educate, motivate and encourage students” while helping them to achieve personal and academic success.

“The [Great Potential] program has taught me leadership skills and how to meet new people outside of school,” Roberts said. “And the College for the Day event made me really want to go to college. While we were at Purchase I got to see the museum and the computer lab. It was so much fun.”

“It was a really exciting trip,” added Calabrese. “We had the chance to see student art and we got to visit the drama classes too. I thought college was going to be all about teachers just giving you assignments, but there was a lot more than that.”

Financial support for Peekskill’s Great Potential program comes from a grant through New York State and Peekskill is one of only six schools in Westchester to receive the funding. The programs activities, which include homework assistance, mentoring, career exploration, college placement and tutoring, are carried out through the Guidance Department at the middle school where PKMS Guidance Counselors, Selma Dais-Stewart and Jackie Kilanowski work daily with the program’s 34 students.

“It’s a wonderful program and I really appreciate the opportunity to tech it here in Peekskill,” said Dias-Stewart. “The kids are great and it’s a wonderful experience for the children and for me.”

Besides the College for the Day event, the Great Potential program has hosted numerous other events and guest speakers. Children have had the chance to get acquainted with fellow students during the program’s Mix-it-Up event, which encouraged students to go outside of their comfort zones and meet new friends. The school has also welcomed college graduates to the school for a question and answer session with students.

“Teaching real-life skills and college readiness is a large part of this program,” Dias-Stewart said.  “I can speak to our students about what the college experience and have them really understand, which is great. Now going to college isn’t some superfluous thing; it’s become real to them and we’re going to get them there.”