Middle School Midterm Support Back for Second Year
Program Helps Seventh and Eighth Graders Prepare for Exams
Caption—Manhasset Middle School teacher Jennifer Hennessey working with students at the midterm support program.
The Manhasset Middle School Midterm Support program is back for a second year after an outstanding response and results in it pilot year in 2010. The program, which was funded by Manhasset Special Education PTA (SEPTA) and created by the Manhasset Secondary school’s special education coordinator and the Secondary School principal, provides special education students with targeted study reviews and exam preparation for the various subjects. Manhasset SEPTA received two generous grants from local organizations for this year’s program.
“SEPTA would like to thank the Flower Hill Women’s Club and Congregational Church of Manhasset’s Missions and Outreach which made grants last year for the program to continue,” Manhasset SEPTA Co-President Lori Mann stated. “The adjustment to middle school’s academic demands is a challenge for regular education student—and it extra difficult when compounded by the needs of special education students so we are very grateful for the community’s support to have this program return,” Mann added.
Students that receive special education support in 7th and 8th grades were invited to participate in the program in mid Jan. The program is run by the school’s special education teachers with sessions focusing on specific subject curriculums, test taking strategies, study skills and study time management.
Manhasset Secondary School’s special education coordinator Stewart Grabelsky worked with special education staff to create the support program that would offer the help in a way that was focus enough without being too overwhelming at each session. The program had each sessions broken into two half with snack breaks between to help prepare the 7th and 8th grade special education students. Nearly twenty students participated in the program.
According to Grabelsky, last year’s program was found to be quite beneficial, with students very receptive to the sessions. There was also increased confidence showed by the participating students during their exams as a direct result from the encouragement and reinforcement received by the program’s staff.
“We are so pleased by the results of the program last year,” Manhasset Secondary School Special Education Coordinator Stewart Grabelsky stated. “In the future, I believe students will be increasing their grades and be better prepared for all the state assessments as a result of participating,” he noted.
Manhasset SEPTA is now welcoming contributions to fund another exam special education support program, asking the community groups, businesses and residents/individuals to please help to make this program happen for 2010. Please contact ManhassetSEPTA@gmail.org for more details, or mail contributions to Manhasset SEPTA at PO Box 155, Manhasset NY 11030.