Success Stories
Off to College (graduation speech 2008)
At first I did not want to attend graduation, let alone present a speech. It was partially because it would mean that I had left one of the greatest schools I have ever attended, and the rest of it was because they were going to make me wear a dress. As you can see they won!!!
It's not so bad, I am happy I came. Seriously, this is one of the best and caring schools I've seen. It causes me great pangs of sorrow, to know that it could end at any minute. I was pleased to discover that they will be reopening next year, but what about the year after that, nobody knows. This place is the only reason I am standing before you today or am around at all.
Before I came here, I was a train wreck.
The Charter Academy is the only thing around here for students who are not capable of completing school in a public setting and to earn a diploma and not a GED.
Though no one can predict the future, I sincerely hope that the Charter School stays open and active for many years to come. Who knows perhaps someday they will become the normal schools. One can only dream. They successfully turned my academic career around. When I came here I didn't even think that I would graduate and now I am looking into colleges.
On July 23, 2009: Sam came to the North Country Charter Academy office requesting an official transcript. He is planning on enrolling in White Mountain Community College in the Fall of 2009.
Congratulations Sam!
2009 Graduation Speech
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jennifer Brown and I am from Whitefield, New Hampshire. I am so glad that I am able to speak to you this afternoon to say thank you for this opportunity. If it were not for the North Country Charter Academy, I would not be getting my high school diploma.
When I entered high school in 2005, I knew I was not going to make it. I was constantly getting in trouble, skipping school and I never got along with any of the people. I was failing all of my classes and just did not want to be there. In 2006, I was expelled from my high school because of my involvement with drugs and alcohol. That was the last time I stepped foot into a traditional high school. While I was attending, the peer pressure was so great, I had hung out with the wrong crowd and was easily influenced.
After being out of school for about a year, I had a friend who attended the Charter School and told me all about it. I decided I would try to apply and when I did I was accepted. This year was my second year at the Charter school. The first year I am so proud to say that I maintained a 100% attendance rate!! Imagine that! It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I loved how the teachers were nice; I was allowed to come in earlier than when the classes started so I could go to my full-time job. I was able to take the trolley from Whitefield to Littleton everyday and the scheduling was perfect. The teachers gave me the individual attention I needed and really cared about my academic success. The entire staff at NCCA also cared about my personal life and helped me through a lot of road blocks. At first, I honestly did not think I would succeed at the Charter School. I did not care much about life and I did not have much confidence in myself.
Today, I see myself as a success. I am proud of this accomplishment and I know that hard work and determination is key. With a little help, support and very caring people, my life has changed.
Communication
My name is Jesse Hern, I am 17 years old and I am from Columbia, New Hampshire. I have been a student at NCCA for two and a half years and stand before you tonight as a graduating student.
I began my high school years at Colebrook Academy in Colebrook, New Hampshire. During my time at Colebrook I did not care about anything. I was always in trouble. I spent more time out of the classroom than I did in it. I only earned a half credit and was failing all of my other classes. At the end of April in my freshman year I was referred to the North Country Charter Academy. I went to the interview and was accepted. I started at the Academy, but still was in the frame of mind that I did not care, but did manage to complete my school year and was able to earn 3.5 credits.
In the fall, my plan was to return to Colebrook Academy. Then I received a letter from the Charter Academy stating that I had a re-intake interview for the upcoming school year. I went to the interview and was again accepted. I decided that since I had success the spring before that I would give it a go with the Charter Academy another year. During that school year, I was able to earn another eight credits that brought me up to a total of 12 credits. I only had eight more to earn and I would have enough to earn the Charter diploma. I realized that I would be on target to graduate this year and have it be the year I was originally suppose to when I started school. I started to realize opportunities were coming my way. I also realized that I was feeling better about myself. I was caring about my education, I even signed up with the Charter School to go on a field trip to the White Mountain Community College to attend their first annual College Expo Convention. My self esteem and self confidence were increasing. I have also taken up an interest in the bass guitar and have been playing for almost two years.
I am now at the end of my final year at the Charter Academy and have decided that I want to pursue a career in Communications. My plan is to attend the White Mountain Community College to take my core classes and then transfer to Lyndon State College and major in Broadcasting and possibly Minor in Music Production or Music Education. Yeah someone who hated school and did not care thinking about teaching music!
If it had not been for the Charter Academy I do not know where I would be right now because I would have most definitely dropped out of school at the age of 16. I would probably be working at some low paying job and going no where in life. Thanks to the Academy I am able to obtain my high school diploma and move on to pursuing a career in an area of interest.
Reaching My Goal and Striving for More by Tashia Moodie
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me reach my goal of graduating high school. I don't know if it would have been possible without the care and commitment of the Charter School staff. The Charter School truly inspired me to reach and then exceed my goal of graduating high school. Now I strive for a college degree.
My journey has been a long and sometimes tough one. After getting into some trouble as a young teenager, I found myself sitting in a group home for teenage girls, called Davenport. This experience was definitely a wake up call. After 7 months of hard work I was able to go back home and attend Littleton High School. Coming back to the public school was not the easiest transition. I was behind in credits and I wasn't used to the large amount of students in my classes.
When I first heard about the Charter school I thought this was too good to be true. I soon had an interview and before I knew it my goal was set for graduating in June 2009.
Tashia and Dad at Graduation
I would like to thank the Charter School for all of their hard work, motivation and constant support. It played a huge role in where I am today.
THANK YOU!
A Parent's Education
Thank you Lisa.
I was a home teacher for Jessica for three years. We moved to Littleton and I decided that it would be best to enroll her at the Littleton High School. I felt Jessica had fallen behind in her programs at home.
I met Lisa a few months before the beginning of school and was very impressed by her enthusiasm and excitement about North Country Charter Academy. I received information and filled out an application. Jessica wasn't too enthused at first, but after the interview she thought it would be a good alternative. She was not able to get in at the beginning of the school year.
Things at Littleton High School went well at first but I quickly saw that she was becoming more and more miserable. Jessica was failing in a couple of classes and she was seriously contemplating quitting school altogether.
That's when we received notification that there had been a slot opened up at NCCA and Jessica's name had been selected for attendance. It took a little bit of convincing, but she accepted the admission.
It wasn't long after beginning at NCCA she began to flourish She was happier and her self esteem began to improve. She was seeing positive improvements in her learning. She was eager to go to school, which made my job of getting her up in the morning easier. She connected with the teachers and found that they respected her as much as she respected them.
Jessica began to see that graduating was going to be possible and that she could pursue her goal of becoming an Automotive Technician. We made a trip to Wyotech, a technical school, she was interested in and she made up her mind that this was where she wanted to go.
Jessica has not only grown in her academic life but also in her personal life. I am so proud of her accomplishments and I am confident that she will succeed in whatever she puts her mind to.
Jessica and mom at Graduation
Two years ago I was invited to become a parent member of the Board of Trustees for NCCA. That is where my education began. I met a group of people that were passionate and protective of the students. They not only genuinely want these young people to succeed, but they want them to excel. They are just as proud to see them succeed and look forward to seeing them pursue their dreams in whatever endeavors they choose. After my term as a parent member, I requested to continue to be on the Board, I wanted to be a part of a project that is destined to be a leader in providing an alternative for students that struggle to fit into the public school system.
I leave you with this quote by Tony Dorset:
"Everything starts with yourself..with you making up your mind about what you are going to do with you life. I tell kids that this is a cruel world, and the world will bend them either left or right and it's up to them to decide which way to bend."
Individuals
Hi...my name is Anne Marie.
I would like to begin by saying, I am so proud of my son Cory and all of these kids that are graduating today!! It took courage and hard work but you are here today and you proved that you could do it!
I often think about where all of these kids would be today without this Charter school, this school not only gave them a reason to not give up, but gave them a chance to feel successful again. They were treated as INDIVIDUALS; WITH INDIVIDUAL LEARNING SKILLS AND ABILITIES. It didn't matter who they were, where they came from, if they were involved in sports or extra curricular activities, they were all there for the same reason. they wanted to graduate!
When problems arose they were understood and they worked through it. When they were challenged, they did their best. They were never told "they wouldn't graduate, or that they weren't going to make it, so they may as well quit school and find a job". THESE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT NCCA STUCK BY THESE KIDS, GUIDED THEM BELIEVED IN THEM AND PRAISED THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!
How did we become part of the Charter Academy? In my sons junior year of high school after being told prior to that he was ok with his credits and community service hours we were informed that Cory in fact did not have enough credits and would not be graduating with his class in 2009. I was angry, confused and lets just say..I counted to 10 many times on the ride home. I called Ms. Lavoie from NCCA immediately and told her of our situation, a few days later we got the call from her and was told the school had sent the referral paperwork and there was an opening. Cory started the following week. When Cory's records were reviewed upon entering the Charter Academy, it was discovered that indeed Cory DID have enough credits to graduate with a State of NH diploma. He worked hard, and finished school this past January. His part time job turned into full time and now he is even talking about college or a tech school. I didn't think I would ever hear those words come out of Cory's mouth, but I am happy for him and support the future he chooses!
For whatever reasons these kids came to the Charter school, it was the choices and decision they made to prove to themselves that they could do it. They felt successful and were accepted for who they are.
My only regret is that Cory didn't come to this school years ago, with all that we went through: the stress, the sleepless nights I had worrying about him turned into positive energy. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders and Cory has gained confidence in himself again. I don't know what we would have done if this school was not an option for him.
I was so glad to hear that in the past four years there have been 116 students that have graduated with 30 percent having gone to college and 29% were dropouts who may not have received their high school diploma.
Without the support of the NH Department of Education, our State Officials, Superintendents, Administrators and everyone who supports this school, this all would not be possible, thank you for coming today and thank you for your support!
To the parents who never gave up, who struggled right along with your son or daughter, this is your day to celebrate too!
In closing, I would like to first thank my family for all of your love and support, for being there for me when I needed to vent, and your encouragement, we couldn't have done it without you!
I would also like to thank the teachers and staff for always being there for us, just a phone call away, and for loving what you do, and for all you have done for these kids. This Charter Academy has changed a lot of lives, without this second chance these kids would not be here today! With that I would like to say....