Through a multi-group effort to reduce high school dropout in Lawrence County, the BRIDGE Days program developed. By having a close working relationship and direct support with the school system, community organizations and Extension, BRIDGE Days has continued to be supported and encouraged. The purpose is to address issues identified by 8th grade students and high school freshmen that could correlate to reasons students may want to drop out of school before graduation. By using surveys conducted for students, teachers, administration and school staff, topics are identified concerning these youth. BRIDGE Days events occur 4 times throughout the school year. Each meeting brings together the 8th grade students from across the county, on non-biased turf, so the students become known as one unit, the Class of 20__, instead of students from each of the schools that feed into our high school. It’s one small stepping stone in the attempt to build unity.  

Programming has ranged from bullying to Reality Store to college visits and more. It’s all relative to identified needs. Student mentors from the junior class also work with these students to encourage and serve as their big brother/sister the upcoming year. It is a positive lead into building a great high school experience.  

Over the past 4 years, the dropout rate has decreased 1.8%. Although this is not an astounding percentage, it is a positive change. Over the long term, not only has BRIDGE Days come to be an expected event by the youth, but it has become part of the 8th grade routine adopted by the school district to target these students for great success and positive relationships.  It is hard to “steal” instructional time from teachers and administrators.  The fact that they willingly help plan and orchestrate these days now speaks volumes to the benefits of the program.   

When speaking with teachers, students and administrators, the following feedback speaks of the opinions of participants past and present:

Students - "They are an opportunity to meet other kids from the other schools that will also be going to our high school next year.  It taught us what to expect from both high school and college and what each has to offer in life path choices.  I think that they were very useful and helpful for our future."  

"BRIDGE Days are days to meet new people from other schools in Lawrence County and to make new friends.  I learned how to save money and all the things you have to do when you get older."

"BRIDGE Days are days that students from Blaine, Fallsburg and Louisa Middle School "bridge" together for a school day, participate in activities that will help them in high school and further on in life.  It taught us about spending money and college tours and it really helped us out on new friendships with people that most of us have never known.  I really enjoyed BRIDGE Days; it helped me out on a lot of things to prepare me for the future."

Teachers/Administrators - "BRIDGE Days has provided wonderful opportunities for my 8th grade students.  They have been able to develop relationships with students from other schools that they will see on a daily basis once they attend high school.  I personally know how intimidating it can be to attend high school coming from a small school.  I would have loved to have had a program like this to calm my nerves before the transition from middle to high school.  BRIDGE Days has also exposed my students to college.  Thanks to the college visits to Morehead, my students have begun thinking about preparing for that important transition in their life."