Edward Thomas, assistant principal at Glen Cove High School, speaks at January 2004 Coalition meeting

Edward Thomas, assistant principal at Glen Cove High School, was the guest speaker at the January meeting of the Coalition for Glen Cove. Mr. Thomas described how this year for the first time ninth graders have been divided into three learning groups, two with 100 students and one with 45. Each group has five teachers for each subject. Since from class to class each student in a group meets all the other members of the group, the group forms a true learning community. The learning communities, by easing the difficult transition from middle school to high school, should reduce the number of students who drop out, improve attendance, and increase the number of students who pass the Regents exams.

Students who have low grades on their fourth-grade English exams take extra English classes in subsequent grades. Time for these classes is made by delaying courses like keyboarding and health.

Guidance counselors will visit social-studies classes in January to help students decide which courses to choose for their next semester. Although most of the curriculum is set by New York State, students can choose regents, honors, or advanced placement for the level of the courses they want to take.

Mr. Thomas encouraged students to take the eleven advanced placement courses in the high school. These are taught using college-level material and most colleges give credit to entering students for them. On January 20^th an information night for students who are considering these courses and for their parents will be presented by Dr. Joan Digby, Honors Program Director at C. W. Post.