Learning Lab supplies students with support

The high school’s Learning Lab is available Monday through Thursday from 3-4:30 p.m. in the literacy café for any student that wants a place to be productive.

According to Computer/Technology teacher Ms. Jamie Emery-Seibert, five teachers, including her, staff the program and help students with their work.

“I do feel that Learning Lab has been effective, and students are productive in that time,” said Ms. Seibert. “I think that bringing their grades up is a big motivator for them.”

Ms. Seibert added that snacks are provided to those participating in Learning Lab.

Science Teacher Ms. Kathleen Bower is another teacher who oversees Learning Lab. She said the program is intended for those that are struggling and cyber students, but anyone is welcome to come.

“We look at the list of kids that are there, and if we can help them, we will,” said Ms. Bower. “We do our best.”

She also said the program should function less as a consequence and more like a study hall that students can work in.

Junior Brayden Munn, an attendee of Learning Lab, said that while staying after school helped him get his work done, it still felt like detention. He added that he thinks having more math teachers would improve Learning Lab.

“Having a teacher in there that helps in math, or even a couple, would help because I feel like that’s what most, if not all, people are in there for,” said Brayden.

Brayden said that while he believes Learning Lab isn’t ideal, he thinks it should remain available because it gives students the potential to catch up on work or get additional help.

According to Co-principal Mr. Michael Bergey, the Learning Lab program was created to help students who were having academic problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the school received relief money from the government to fund the program.

“A lot of kids were struggling during the pandemic,” said Mr. Bergey. “Kids may have lost a little bit of the instruction that they would’ve received in a classroom, so we utilized the money to help those kids in after school programs.”

According to Mr. Bergey, Learning Lab is promoted through the morning announcements and frequent emails. He said that the program is the first of its kind in Milton High School and will continue to run until the grant money is gone, which will be this year.

“I’m hoping that we can find a way to continue that program once the grant money runs out,” said Mr. Bergey. “I’ll continue to be an advocate for it, but only if we can get more kids to participate.”

About three or four students on average attend Learning Lab daily.

He said that while Learning Lab is optional for students that are passing, students that are struggling or have a lot of missing work are assigned to attend by their teachers, similar to after school detention. He added that failing students are typically given a number of days that they must attend Learning Lab by their teachers.

Mr. Bergey said he believes that students should take advantage of the program since it provides a quiet space to be productive. He added that he thinks Learning Lab is a beneficial and effective way for students to improve their grades.

“There’s a ton of support there,” said Mr. Bergey. “If you’re struggling in a core content class, you basically have access to one-on-on time with teachers for an hour and a half.”