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Freshman academy to enhance success at FDSH

A freshman academy that will ease incoming students into the high school atmosphere at Fort Dodge Senior High is part of the reasoning behind a FDSH classroom and locker room renovation plan, according to Kenneth Hayes, FDSH principal.

“All the research says if you can create a smaller learning environment within a larger school system like Fort Dodge has, you are going to increase achievement, you are going to increase the students’ enjoyment of school,” Hayes said. “That is our hope is to transition these eighth graders into the high school with the highest success rate as possible.”

The Fort Dodge Community School District board approved the opening of bids for the classroom and locker room renovation at its meeting Monday.

The renovations are included in the general obligation bond that passed about a year ago.

Sixteen classrooms will be renovated as part of the project.

About half of those classrooms in the north hallway will become the freshman academy, according to Travis Filloon, director of building and grounds.

Three English teachers, two math teachers, two social studies teachers, two science teachers, two special education teachers, a Spanish teacher, and a counselor will be staffed specifically for the academy, Hayes said.

Having a staff dedicated to the freshman academy will help the school fulfill the needs of its students, according to Hayes.

“When they come together to plan, they will plan content, social emotional curriculum, study skill habits, career and post-secondary education opportunities for kids,” Hayes said. “They are going to educate the whole child from beginning to end in high school.”

Freshmen students will have all of their core classes in that freshman academy space, Hayes said.

Hayes along with additional FDSH staff will be available for a meet and greet regarding the academy at upcoming parent/student/teacher conferences.

The conferences will be held at the Fort Dodge Middle School on March 7 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and March 9 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“We will be available if any parents want to discuss the freshman academy and the structure and how it will benefit their kids,” Hayes said. “Our motto is failure is not an option. Our goal is to make sure every freshman has 13 to15 credits by the time they finish ninth grade.”

Locker room

Locker rooms at Fort Dodge Senior High that will be expanded as part of the renovation efforts will provide an equal amount of space for boys and girls athletics, according to Filloon.

“We will absorb the space that was previously the wrestling room,” Filloon said. “We will end up with four locker rooms where there were two before.”

Filloon said there have been events at the school in the past where additional locker room space was needed.

The new space will be constructed to provide more efficient heating and cooling, Filloon said.

A trainers room and officials changing office for referees will also be incorporated in the new space.

Also among the new features will be a more affective design for coaches and players to meet during halftime, Filloon said.

“There will also be a screen where coaches can possibly show a play to the players,” Filloon said.

The lockers themselves will be also be replaced.

“The boys’ and girls’ locker room will all be on one side,” Filloon said. “From the gym wall and from hallway to hallway will be completely gutted and will start over.”

The locker room and classroom renovations are to begin May 1 with a completion date set for Aug. 25.

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