SOUTH YARMOUTH – The YMCA Cape Cod is expanding its Achievers Program to the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District.
The program, which has been offered in Barnstable for the last three years, is designed to help students overcome personal challenges in getting ready for their life beyond high school and is specifically targeted at students who are the first in their family to go to college.
YMCA Cape Cod President and CEO Stacie Peugh says the program focuses on five pillars.
“We focus on college knowledge, life skills, career exploration, being able to navigate the college process, and really keep focused on academics,” Peugh said. “We sure all of those up to help them get into college.”
The program has been in existence for 52 years by the YMCA but did not start on Cape Cod until four years ago.
The curriculum taught is out of the University of Chicago and is called 6to16. It follows the students from 6th grade right through their 16th school year and into their career of choice.
“We offer mentors for the program who help students along that pathway at different grade levels,” Peugh said. “Every grade has a different focus for college preparedness.”
The mentors are often individuals who had similar life experiences to the current students participating in the program.
“They have found a pathway for themselves to be successful and have graduated from college and are in a career of their choice,” Peugh said.
The mentors meet with the students on Monday nights. In Barnstable, the program is offered at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. In the Dennis-Yarmouth district, students will begin meeting with mentors at the high school.
“The mentors show up and they talk about their life story and their pathway to career success and they have conversations with students one-on-one who are very interested in similar careers,” Peugh said.
Students in the program are also placed in internships during the summer months.
Further expansion of the program throughout the Cape is expected in the near future.
The YMCA has had preliminary discussions with Falmouth High School with plans on beginning the program in the 2020-21 school year.
Peugh said they also see an opportunity for partnerships with Mashpee Public Schools and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich.
“If the interest is there we will be happy to do what we can to expand and provide the programs for both of those schools as well,” she said.
Students in the Dennis-Yarmouth school district as young as 8th grade will have an opportunity to join the program.
Three one-hour information sessions for parents and students interested in entering the YMCA Achievers Program will be held at D-Y High School Thursday, October 18 at 2, 5:30 and 7 p.m.
Program Director Rene King will be available to meet with parents and students and take applications and discuss what it will take to commit to the program.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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