A head start: Combining high school and college classes A head start: Combining high school and college classes (March 06, 2002)works for students in Canada's program

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Staff Writer

High school can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times.

Some kids feel they don't fit in. Some are bored with "busy work," and want more challenge. Others just want to get through it and get on to college. The answer could be enrolling in Canada's Middle College program.

Started three years ago, Canada's Middle College offers high school juniors and seniors a chance to get out of high school and get started in college. There are similar programs at College of San Mateo and Foothill.

Former Woodside High teachers Jen Petroelje and Mitch Roman, who have been with the program since its inception, make up the faculty and also act as counselors and advisers to some 56 kids.

Once accepted to Middle College, students take required high school classes on the Canada campus and may start college courses, saving thousands of dollars on college tuition.

For most kids it's about a lot more than saving money.

"There was a lot of busy work and I didn't do very well," admits Alex Naeve of Woodside, who spent her first two high school years at Woodside High. "I never was really into the whole high school thing," she adds.

Now a senior in the Middle College, Alex has found her niche. "I really like it here. There aren't any cliques. Everybody hangs out with everybody," she says regarding students enrolled in the program. She says Middle College "is a lot more work, even the high school classes, but I take classes that interest me.

"A lot of people come up here and think it's an extension of high school. It's not," says Alex, who made the dean's list last semester.

When she learned about the Middle College program from her mother, Pam Naeve, Alex enrolled half-way through her junior year. After high school graduation, she will remain at Canada for a year, then she hopes to transfer to the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Career plans? "I'm really interested in psychology," she says.

Dana Van Deman of Menlo Park attended Menlo-Atherton High School for two years, but says, "I felt out of place in the social structure and the work was not challenging." Dana was so determined to make a change, she had asked her parents to send her East to boarding school before she heard about Middle College. Her parents were supportive of her making a change and happy she didn't have to leave home to complete her high school education.

Dana has become the program's poster girl. She is on the dean's list, and when she graduates this spring, will have both a high school diploma and associate of arts degree in economics, enabling her to skip the first two years at Bentley College in Boston.

Dana is vice president of finance for Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

Dana's future plans? "I ultimately want to be a CEO. I love every aspect of business."

David O'Brien of Menlo Park is now in his second year at Canada after transferring from Menlo-Atherton High School. "The atmosphere here is more mature. I wanted to go to a school where people wanted to learn."

David heard about Middle College from his M-A guidance counselor. He has no regrets. "I liked it from the beginning and I went up a grade point." He does miss friends from M-A, but keeps in touch with them outside school.

Taking college courses in astronomy, psychology, and music theory, as well as required high school classes, David plans to stay at Canada for one more year, then transfer to a four-year college, preferably on the East Coast. In terms of a career, he hopes "to do something with politics."

Jen Petroelje and Mitch Roman teach the kids high school courses from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays. They've been working together since they did team teaching at Woodside High. In the morning they are available for individual counseling.

Ms. Petroelje is like a proud parent when she talks about her students. "I could brag about all of them. I know all their stories and how far each one of them has come," she says.
MEETING

An information meeting for parents and students interested in enrolling in Middle College next fall will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21, in the Sequoia Union High School District office, 480 James Ave., Redwood City. A second meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. For more information, call the Middle College office at Canada College, 306-3120.