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People Helping People Program (PHP) (Freshman Transition Program)

Wilson High School has had the highest daily attendance for the past three years of all high schools in the Tacoma district. Several things have contributed to the 92 percent average daily attendance rate, including quality incentives, a focus on engaged learning, and strong family participation.

Five years ago ninth-grade assistant principal Cherry Goudeau, with the leadership of Principal Paul Apostle, designed a program to provide extra support for freshmen. Goudeau asked older students what would have made their transition easier, and many indicated that mentors in the school would have helped. Thus, the "People Helping People" program (so named by a student) began. Goudeau's vision was to build a network of peers, teachers, and internal and external mentors. Although she was able to match students with adult mentors the first year, she realized that it was "a scheduling nightmare" and focused on providing peer mentors for students in subsequent years.

The program begins in August with a "First Day of School Holiday" for freshmen and their parents. Freshmen receive a phone call from their PHP student leaders inviting them to the special day. Parents also receive an invitation and are provided a letter for their employers that explains the purpose for the event, and asks the employer to grant time off to attend.

During the special August orientation, freshmen are matched with their PHP student leaders who go over their class schedule, take them on a tour of the school, show them their locker, introduce teachers, and answer questions. Meanwhile, parents are attending panel discussions with teachers to ease their concerns about the transition.

As the year progresses, PHP leaders continue to meet with their students to provide encouragement, tutoring, and advice. Each month a student leader provides esteem, conflict resolution, work and social skills activities during a freshman English class. Student leaders benefit from the experience as much as their freshman buddies, as they learn leadership skills and earn service learning credits.

To provide incentives for using the character-building skills they learned, student leaders and teachers issue "Ram³ Pride Citations" to students who demonstrate characteristics such as attendance, respect, positive attitude, problem solving, patience, organization, and initiative. Once a student receives a citation, they get a Wilson Ram Head Certificate posted in the hallway. Currently there are more than 20 Ram's Heads posted.

Goudeau is quick to point out how well the citations are working to provide positive feedback to students. When one discouraged student received a Ram Pride Citation, she glowed with pride—the look on her face was "priceless." The citations became so popular that older students clamored to get them, and now all students can receive citations.

Although Goudeau says this program has taken much time and energy for her to organize, she knows any support schools can give incoming students is important, even if they can't design an elaborate mentor program. "It only takes a little encouragement," she says.

³The school mascot is a ram.