FES Website: http://www.fesnet.org/

Gateway Regional High School has fully established an active FES Club. The club meets every Monday in either Mr. Boisseau's Room or Mr. Gilbert's Room. The meeting goes from 2:30 until 3:30 or 4:00 PM.

We are planning trips to American International College, Holyoke Community College, Skidmore College, Springfield College, Westfield State College, and many others.

We are already planning the second Annual Gateway Regional High School Alumni College Fair for just before the Thanksgiving break in November 2006.

Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) is a nonprofit organization that works with public schools in high-need communities to raise student aspirations and performance by developing innovative partnerships among schools and between schools and colleges.

Working with educators from the schools and partnering colleges, students, parents, community members, and local businesses, FES helps schools develop principles and practices that enable them to cultivate and sustain a culture of achievement. In short, our mission is to encourage every student to take "One More Step" toward a high school diploma and college matriculation.

Since 1991, FES has helped more than 140,000 students in 270 schools nationwide earn better grades, score higher on standardized tests, graduate from high school, pursue post-secondary opportunities, and make meaningful contributions to their schools and communities.

Misson of FES

Working collaboratively with educators in member schools and with college partners, Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) is committed to helping youth in low-income communities raise their aspirations and academic achievement by providing opportunities that encourage each student to take "One More Step" in their education.

Taking "One More Step" requires that students be challenged to set more ambitious goals for themselves: for those at risk of not continuing school, for example, "One More Step" can mean completing high school; for those thinking of ending their academic careers with a high school diploma, "One More Step" means pursuing post-secondary education or training.

Principles & Practices

Principles

These principles guide the FES approach to helping schools better serve their students:

1. FES practices-mentoring, goal setting, pathways to college, and leadership through service-are the primary avenue for enabling students to take "One More Step". Implementation of the four core practices has a significant impact on student aspirations and achievement.


2. The FES team in each school, which ideally includes the principal, teachers, key school staff, a community member, and a college representative, has responsibility for implementing FES practices and programs. Working with the FES team, FES staff members help the school build a sustaining capacity to implement programs and practices.


3. FES fosters networking among educators at the local, regional, and national level. Networking promotes sharing of ideas and experience, collaborative programs, and a sense of common purpose. Regional and national meetings, a website, a newsletter, and a shared philosophy and purpose strengthen the FES community.


4. Because early college awareness is an essential strategy for strengthening student aspirations, college partnerships are a fundamental component of FES. These cooperative relationships support college visits, mentoring programs, and common academic endeavors by teachers and college professors.


5. FES promotes a positive, productive relationship between the school and the community. Parental involvement in the school and in FES activities is a crucial element of success. When the community and the school share a common goal (i.e., fostering student aspirations and achievement), FES programs have a high probability of success.

Four Core Practices

Students in FES schools participate in activities that incorporate four core practices:

1. Mentoring: FES schools recognize the educational and personal benefits to students of a relationship with an older, more experienced individual. Each FES school creates mentoring opportunities for its students. Mentors include college students, adults in the community, and older peers in the school. The training of mentors, which is facilitated by FES staff, promotes successful mentor-mentee relationships. Here is an FES Mentoring Handbook;
   http://www.fesnet.org/pdf/MentorHandbook05-06.pdf


2. Goal Setting: Helping students establish short- and long-term goals fosters awareness of the future and of personal potential. Ideally, students reexamine and revise their goals on a regular basis. Student goal setting occurs in the context of a mentoring relationship, in the classroom setting, or in special circumstances such as a workshop hosted by a college athletic team. Effective goal setting includes discussion of what a student must do to reach a short- or long-term goal.


3. Pathways to College: As early as possible, FES schools-in partnership with colleges-expose students to college as a realistic opportunity. Students at all grade levels visit college campuses, meet with college students and staff and learn how to navigate the college process. These activities elevate student aspirations and help students define an academic and career direction. Recognizing the high percentage of students who drop out of college before attaining a degree, FES schools and college partners provide experiences that promote college persistence.


4. Leadership Through Service: Taking responsibility for one's community is a strong indicator of increased student aspirations and engagement. FES schools create avenues for students to provide service to the local community and to their schools. Frequently, providing service to others fosters the qualities and skills of leadership. Students, through school-based FES Clubs, become a force for community development and improvement.