Post by wvhsparent on Aug 18, 2006 7:33:30 GMT -6
Frontier Campus venture brings college atmosphere to District 204
By Britt Carson
staff writer
Frontier Campus doesn't look like a typical high school, but on Aug. 28 about 150 high school students from Indian Prairie District 204 arrive for their first day of classes at the new office building.
The campus, which is a joint venture between District 204 and College of DuPage, is in the Fry Building, just down the road from Neuqua Valley High School on 95th Street in Naperville. The top two floors of the office building hold science and computer labs, teacher work rooms and a kitchen for the culinary program.
The building offers two things for students: regular high school classes and COD classes to earn college credit, said Dave Scheidecker, dean of the campus.
"We are offering students a challenge their senior year," he said.
The classes are offered in 90-minute blocks, similar to what a student would experience in college, he said. Classes are twice a week – Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are "free days" when students can come in for extra help or confer with teachers, he said.
"We still have the high school structure with the dress codes and rules, but with the freedom similar to what they would see at college," Scheidecker said. "This is an opportunity to learn the responsibility, but with a safety net."
The campus is open only to seniors and geared toward those students who have fulfilled many of their academic requirements and might otherwise graduate early.
If a student's grade point average begins to fall, he or she will be required to come in on Fridays for extra help.
Scheidecker said many students are now taking five years to get a college degree, so every little bit helps.
"With today's cost, five years of college could be $50,000 and with this, students can go into college with nine or 12 hours of college credit and possibly graduate in four years."
Of the 150 students Frontier will accommodate, about 20 are from Waubonsie Valley High School and the rest are from Neuqua Valley. The building also helps relieve overcrowding at Neuqua as enrollment continues to increase. Many students took advantage of an open house on Thursday to see their new school.
"I thought this would be a good transition to college," said Krissy Maher, a Neuqua senior who will study at the campus. "I really liked the block scheduling and more freedom."
Timothy Williams, a Waubonsie senior, is excited about the new campus.
"I thought it would be an interesting thing to do during my senior year," he said.
A shuttle bus runs between Waubonsie and Frontier six times a day. Students from Neuqua can walk to the campus.
By Britt Carson
staff writer
Frontier Campus doesn't look like a typical high school, but on Aug. 28 about 150 high school students from Indian Prairie District 204 arrive for their first day of classes at the new office building.
The campus, which is a joint venture between District 204 and College of DuPage, is in the Fry Building, just down the road from Neuqua Valley High School on 95th Street in Naperville. The top two floors of the office building hold science and computer labs, teacher work rooms and a kitchen for the culinary program.
The building offers two things for students: regular high school classes and COD classes to earn college credit, said Dave Scheidecker, dean of the campus.
"We are offering students a challenge their senior year," he said.
The classes are offered in 90-minute blocks, similar to what a student would experience in college, he said. Classes are twice a week – Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are "free days" when students can come in for extra help or confer with teachers, he said.
"We still have the high school structure with the dress codes and rules, but with the freedom similar to what they would see at college," Scheidecker said. "This is an opportunity to learn the responsibility, but with a safety net."
The campus is open only to seniors and geared toward those students who have fulfilled many of their academic requirements and might otherwise graduate early.
If a student's grade point average begins to fall, he or she will be required to come in on Fridays for extra help.
Scheidecker said many students are now taking five years to get a college degree, so every little bit helps.
"With today's cost, five years of college could be $50,000 and with this, students can go into college with nine or 12 hours of college credit and possibly graduate in four years."
Of the 150 students Frontier will accommodate, about 20 are from Waubonsie Valley High School and the rest are from Neuqua Valley. The building also helps relieve overcrowding at Neuqua as enrollment continues to increase. Many students took advantage of an open house on Thursday to see their new school.
"I thought this would be a good transition to college," said Krissy Maher, a Neuqua senior who will study at the campus. "I really liked the block scheduling and more freedom."
Timothy Williams, a Waubonsie senior, is excited about the new campus.
"I thought it would be an interesting thing to do during my senior year," he said.
A shuttle bus runs between Waubonsie and Frontier six times a day. Students from Neuqua can walk to the campus.