The incoming Haverhill High freshmen — armed only with graphing calculators and can-do attitudes — are hot on the trail of a potential killer.
From July 6 to 23 at Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill High School is running its first Academic Youth Development summer program.
The 22 student participants will study freshman math lessons and advanced learning techniques, but not from a book or by listening to lectures. Instead, they are crime scene investigators called upon to solve a mystery.
They way they go about the challenge helps them understand how they learn.
For example, when faced with problems for which logic and geometry skills are needed, they work to reconstruct bones rather than abstract shapes.
Deciding where to look for clues means challenging the other members of their team using averages and graphs to support their conclusions.
"This isn't a boring type of math," said Shantal Alemen, 14. "It's hands-on math."
For Alemen, this real-world connection makes the material all the more exciting.
"It might be hard waking up in the morning, but it's worth it," she said.
The program meets from 8 a.m. until noon at NECC's Technology Center. Students split their time between group math projects, including their over-arching investigation, and exercises that examine how they process information.
Students who complete the program will receive half a credit toward their high school graduation requirements.
"I never really did something like this before," said David Prescott, 14. "I'm learning how to approach problems differently."
The students will meet monthly when fall arrives in order to conference over how they're applying what they learned in the summer toward their freshman studies.
Prescott, who considers himself fairly versed in math, said attending the program was another opportunity to socialize with potential classmates before entering Haverhill High School in the fall.
"It's good because I'll have new friends," he said.
Bronwyn Boyle, a lead teacher for the program, said she intends that students who take part in the program will start school in the fall with a boost of self confidence. More importantly, students will be assigned to math and English classes with the same teachers with whom they studied this summer.
"Our goal is to have the kids coming to the high school feeling comfortable about their learning," she said. "The idea of this program is for students to recognize their potential."
Five teachers — four math teachers and an English teacher — are participating in this summer's workshop.
Math teacher Judy Call hopes this program will edge students away from the "drill and kill" mentality present in the standardized test-heavy curriculum of high school.
As a teacher, she found herself enjoying the hands-on approach to math as well.
"When you're up there with chalk, it's kind of lame," she said. "This does put a whole different spin on things."
Mike Rossetti, the sole English teacher involved in the program, said he's happy to take part in programs that move away from standardized testing. He said students' self image can suffer when they don't score well.
"That makes them decide if they're smart or dumb," he said. "We're getting away from that. That's not the way we want to do it anymore."
He said the focus on establishing a yearlong connection with students also attracted him to working on the program.
"Before they even walk through the door, we know them," he said.
Haverhill High School Principal Bernard Nangle said he's looking forward to these students entering their freshman class as peer leaders.
"If the kids don't buy into Haverhill High School as freshmen they'll struggle for the rest of their years," he said. "I think it's very exciting."
