Students at Pattonville Senior High School this school year have become well accustomed to their weekly Pirate Connections session, which takes place on Thursdays after 2nd hour. During this session every other week, students take part in discussion and participation with topics that range from character building to college and career planning.
A+ and Community Service Coordinator and counselor Rebecca Krohn who has been in the district for 17 years said that Pirate Connections is currently in its second year. It was created because she and other administrators felt that they needed to do more to help students with college and career planning and it’s an avenue to share information with students to help make decisions for life after Pattonville High School.
Last year they received great feedback from both students and staff and they continually try to improve the program based on that feedback. A majority of teachers are fully supportive of the program.
All Mrs. Krohn hopes is “that students take full advantage of the program, because not many schools have a program like this and it helps prepare for the future outside of the classroom” because it is expected to remain for a while.
Some students and teachers gave their opinion about Pirate Connections:
“It’s helped me get on task because I’ve been slacking off a little.”
-Darrien Johnson, grade 10.
“It’s okay, in Contact Time I get some stuff done, but the Pirate Connections is kind of stupid because we know what to do and what they teach us.”
-Emily Prueitt, grade 9.
“I like it because of Pirate TV, but I feel that it is kind of useless because I don’t do anything. It’s kind of weird.”
-Alissa Keller, grade 10.
“I like Pirate Connections, it gives us the scoop on how the school runs, activities to join, commodities, and keeps me occupied.”
-Alisha Hutchins, grade 11.
“I enjoy my Pirate Connections class, I like getting to know the class. We’ve been here for a year and a half, and I see the students support each other and they get help outside of class.”
-Janet Baldwin, English.
“I like it, I like the fact that I’m with the same students every year, and I like that the topics we cover aren’t all about school. I like how they [the students] set goals, keep track of grades, and get connections.”
-Vann Hahn, English.
