THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9601300133
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CORY JORDAN, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Where would you expect to find a high-school junior from 5 to 7 p.m. a Thursday?
On the phone?
Watching television?
Returning to school for another two hours?
For a group of Norfolk public school students, the answer is the third one. Last spring, 60 of Norfolk's top scorers on the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test were invited to increase their chances of attending the college of their choice by taking a free prep class that had boosted other students' scores on the SAT by as much as 360 points.
Free, with results like that? Many parents called to be sure the information that came in the mail was correct, since other SAT prep courses can cost as much as $500.
The goal of the class is to make a good score great, a great score excellent. This is achieved through test-taking tips as well as standard instruction.
The Norfolk program has its roots in Virginia Beach. Two years ago, Cox High School math teacher Glenn LaFerriere teamed up to start a prep class with former Cox colleagues Pamela Riddick and Bill Pickens. Riddick, who then was an assistant principal at Cox, is now principal of Ruffner Middle in Norfolk, while Pickens, who taught gifted students at Cox, teaches in Ruffner's media department.
The program was a huge success; 20 students boosted their scores by 120 points or more.
The success prompted Norfolk Public Schools assistant superintendent J. Frank Sellew to allow LaFerriere to bring the program to Norfolk.
Norfolk classes have been held at Ruffner. They started last June and adjourned to allow the high school students to prepare for final exams in their regular classes.
Over summer break students had to complete practice tests and clock 52 hours of study time. Students were guaranteed half of one English credit if they completed this schedule.
In late August, the classes resumed. Norfolk students finished the course and took the PSAT late last month.
LaFerriere said the program is successful because of what he calls the ``dream team'' concept - combining ``strong students, high motivation from teachers and students and a system that works.''
Several of the Norfolk juniors in the class said that they are glad that they joined.
John Cachero, 16, a junior from Lake Taylor, improved his score by 120 points on a recent practice test. He also has enjoyed the social aspect - meeting students from other schools.
Anne Magnan, 16, a Maury student, already has reaped benefits in her math analysis class because she knows ``easier ways of solving problems.''
And Cox senior Robin Dwyer, 16, whose test scores increased by 320 points, said that she gained insights on the test itself, not just general knowledge of math and vocabulary. Robin, who wants to attend Princeton University, said that she learned tricks to ``beat'' the test and what to expect when she walked into the SAT testing center.
One technique to ``beat'' the test that she and others learned is to substitute numbers in math problems involving complex variables, x and y and that sort of thing. This method can save as much as four or five minutes on a single problem.
More classes are planned in the future.
LaFerriere can be reached at 481-7331. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cory Jordan is a junior at Maury High School.
by CNB