The second cohort of the NECSD Marist Early College High School (ECHS) program began in January. During their first week, the two cohorts met and were paired as mentor and mentee. The 9^th and 10^th graders met in the NFA Eagle’s Nest for an introduction and brief ice breaker, facilitated by teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas-Cappello, and program principal, Ms. Susan Valentino. Throughout the year, the scholars will work together and give the younger scholars an opportunity to ask questions and learn from their older peers as they continue through the program.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Early College High School (ECHS) program  welcomed the inaugural cohort of students in January 2019, after receiving a grant that partners NFA with Marist to offer high school students the opportunity to earn up to a year of college credits. The program will connect the resources of the district to the expertise of Marist College’s School of Computer Science and Mathematics to equip 120 high school graduates over four years with a Regents diploma and the opportunity to earn a minimum of 24 college credits toward a degree in computer science. The grant is from the State Education Department as part of their Smart Scholars Early College High School Programs.

Throughout the program, scholars take college courses at NFA Main during the school year and at Marist College during the summer. Scholars have the opportunity to learn about navigating a college library system, spend up to three weeks at Marist College taking classes during the summer, learn from college students, and present their final project to faculty, staff, and special guests.

All photos from the event can be viewed and downloaded for free here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-pJH_8IcgQKzYgHco_3bB9fySsQNeN8a?usp=sharing