Sixth and ninth grade students from Vincent Middle High School recently participated in report card conferences which allowed each student to meet with both former and current educators to review his or her report card.

Dr. Michelle Edwards, the principal at Vincent Middle High School, said students in these grades will meet with an assigned mentor after each grading period to discuss academic successes and any areas of improvement.  Together, the student and mentor will collaborate on a plan of action for the next nine weeks.  This plan can consist of academic strategies, soft skill implementation, and character education.

Dr. Edwards said the report card conferences will then morph into student-led conferences by the end of the third term.  Student-led conferences allow the students the opportunity to lead the conferences on a topic in which they are the expert – themselves.  The long-term plan is to add an additional middle school and high school grade level each academic year in order to build this into a school-wide initiative by 2018-2019.

Dr. Edwards said that she first heard of this type of initiative being implemented successfully at Montevallo High School.

“When I had the opportunity to find out more information about the program, I knew that it would greatly benefit our students,” said Dr. Edwards. “Ms. Roxanna Traylor, middle school guidance counselor, and Ms. Brigitte Vick, sixth grade Social Studies teacher, have organized the program at VMHS to provide support to students in the transitional years of sixth and ninth grade.  We are very fortunate to have so many volunteer mentors that are willing to commit to this partnership for our students.”