SAUGUS — A letter was sent out to families last week from the middle-high school’s principal, Brendon Sullivan, saying that the school will not be offering Credit Recovery Summer School for its high school students this summer.
This means that Saugus High School (SHS) students who fail classes during the school year will not be able to make up the course for credit during an abbreviated summer session.
“This decision is in keeping with our mission to increase the overall academic rigor and education for all of our students,” Sullivan said. “Our mission is to provide the highest quality education during the nine and a half months that school is in session. It is impossible to provide that same level of quality during a brief summer session.”
Sullivan sent this message out to provide students with plenty of time and warning so they can seek available support during the school year.
“The administration and staff of Saugus High School are working diligently to ensure that all students can meet success during the school year,” Sullivan said.
Some of these supports include the Saturday Online “Grade Recovery” Intervention program, which began on Feb. 12. The program is still accepting students who received a failing grade (in core academic subjects) for the term to come to school on Saturday morning to complete the work and earn a passing grade for that term; after-school help sessions where all teachers are required to stay after school at least two days per week to provide make-up and extra help to students; and National Honor Society Peer Tutoring.
“I am confident that all SHS students are still in a position to succeed and pass all of their classes for this school year,” Sullivan said.
However, students who receive a failing grade for the year in a required class will need to repeat the course next year and will not be able to earn academic eligibility for athletics/extracurriculars through Credit Recovery Summer School. Saugus High School will not accept Credit Recovery Summer School credits from any other institutions.
Sullivan also relayed a message to high-school seniors, saying that he is considering a very limited program for the late spring/early summer, only for seniors who need a short amount of extra time to complete their graduation requirements.
More information on this potential program will come later.
Sullivan encouraged parents to check in regularly with their students about their academic progress and if they are struggling, they should reach out to the student’s teachers directly as a first step.
“Please encourage your students to attend all of their classes on a daily basis, arrive to school on time every day, and complete their classwork on time,” Sullivan said.
For those students who are currently on track to fail one or more classes and do not have Credit Recovery Summer School to fall back on, Sullivan said Saugus Middle-High School affords “ample opportunity to achieve academic success during the school year.”
“Teachers, administrators, counselors, and paraprofessionals work hard each day to help all students to succeed,” Sullivan said. “However, you (the student) must do your part. Remember, this is your education; you must own it. Even if you are behind at the moment, I know with effort and determination, you can still succeed. It will not be easy, but few worthwhile things in life come easily.”
