Officials at Fenton Community High School in Bensenville have developed a new mandatory academic program that will give additional help to students who are failing classes in their first year of high school.

Fenton Principal Todd Leden said the program, called Freshman Intervention Team, will help freshmen if they find themselves struggling with keeping their grades up, and will assist them in learning throughout their high-school careers.

Q: Tell me about the Freshman Intervention Team program. How does it work?
A: We do grade reporting every four-and-a-half weeks here at Fenton. Any student earning an F in any class will then report for extra help after school for the next four-and-a-half weeks. If after that time they are passing that class and all others, they are free to exit FIT. FIT will run for 50 minutes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school. Students will start with the work they are missing or struggling with. After that, enrichment packets will be utilized.

To inform students of the program, we put the information on the Web site and in our monthly bulletin. I will talk to summer-school students and to all freshmen at the beginning of the year to discuss FIT.

 
Q: When does it begin? Will only freshmen use it?
A: We will begin at the first reporting cycle of the school year. If after we are successful with the freshman students, we might expand it to sophomores or students failing more than one class. We have a coordinator that runs the program and six teacher-tutors who will help each night. We hope to utilize upper-class students excel in the classroom, which would help them earn their community service hour requirements.
 
Q: How did the FIT program come about?
A: Studies have shown that many freshmen struggle with the transition to high school. We want to hold them accountable right at the beginning of their freshman year and teach the study habits that will allow them to be successful. Both of the (feeder) districts, No. 2 and No. 7, have programs similar to this and we expect the transition to be smooth.
 
Q: How do you feel this program will benefit students?
A: Students that are successful have greater self-esteem and become more involved in school. This is a great community and it will be strengthened with all students graduating and contributing to said community.