For some of us, the morning of October 8 meant an extra half hour to sleep in. For others, it was an important time to catch up on school work and to get back on track. Academic Help Day made its debut this month, a forty minute block of time for students to get help in their classes. For some MHS students, coming in early on school days to get help isn’t an option. The solution to the problem: a session from 7:50 to 8:30 on certain Wednesday mornings, so students can take the bus and still receive the help they need.

Important resources available to students during Academic Help Day included teachers. Some teachers kept their doors wide open so any students who needed help could walk in. Others provided assistance on specific assignments, such as essays and tests. In these situations, certain students were asked to attend the help session with the teacher. Mrs. Price, who teaches AP Chemistry, thought that the day was helpful for students. She had about ten students come in that morning, working on harder concepts and preparing for retakes. She expressed her appreciation, saying “as teachers, we are here to support students and their learning. I think the Academic Support Day is a great opportunity for students to remain on track with their academics and plan for overall success.”

In addition to teachers, groups such as NHS and the Media Center provided academic support. One place that was used by many students during Academic Help Day was the Writing Center. Students could sign up for tutoring sessions during the extended zero hour, and writing coaches were ready to assist students with assignments. Ms. Shea, who works with students and coaches in the Writing Center, said that most of the students getting help were ninth graders because there was an essay due for ninth grade English classes that week. Nearly thirty ninth graders participated in coaching sessions during the academic support time. Ms. Shea said that the support time had a huge impact on students because it gave them a time to come in that would work for everyone. She explained, “without study halls, there’s not a natural time for students to come into the Writing Center other than zero hour and after school. But for ninth and tenth graders it’s often very hard to get in here during zero hour because they don’t drive, so it was really, really helpful.”

Other students appreciated the morning time as well. Sophomore Greta Cutts thought that the extra time in the morning was very beneficial. Greta wasn’t required to come in like other students at the high school, but she went in anyways for help. She described the forty minute period as being very useful time for herself, and for other students as well. She spent her morning both visiting teachers for help and working on homework with friends in the Writing Center.

For now, the Academic Help Days will continue as a pilot. However, students regard the help days highly: getting support in the morning without having to worry about other obligations (or losing sleep) is valuable. With this newly implemented idea at the high school, Minnetonka students have yet another advantage in staying academically on track.