Program Helps Danbury Middle Schoolers Bridge The Gap

DANBURY, Conn. -- Danbury middle school students are taking college courses and learning about DNA and hurricanes.

Danbury middle school students in the summer Bridges program test food particles for salmonella at the Western Connecticut State University Science Building.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy The Danbury School District*

by Nathan Bruttell

10/21/2013 4:30 a.m.

The students are getting hands-on experience taking the courses known as The Bridges program, a collaboration between local schools and Western Connecticut State University, that helps push students toward their goals, according to a news release from the Danbury School District.

While the program typically focuses on high school students, 60 Danbury middle school students had the opportunity to attend college classes and learn about math, music, DNA and hurricanes, according to the release. On July 15 and 16, the seventh- and eighth-grade students, under the guidance of several teachers, including program facilitators Alison Donofrio, Jessica Battaglia and Doug Mottola, were at the WCSU campus.

"The Bridges Program provides students with the opportunity to experience what college has to offer and that college is a reachable goal,” Mottola said in the release. “By involving our students in this program, college is a reality and not someone else's dream. It gives our students the confidence to know that it is within their reach. We are extremely thankful to WCSU for letting us pair up with them and offering our students a life changing experience."

Student Lucas Amaralsaid enjoyed learning about the hurricane tracking system in the university's Weather Center.

"We got to see what it’s really like somewhere else, where the storm is going on,” Amaralsaid said in the release. “Everything was different from regular school.”

Since 2004-05, WCSU has partnered with Bethel and Danbury high schools on the project called “Building a Bridge to Improve Student Success.”

"The partnership has helped thousands of high school seniors move successfully to college — and succeed there," representatives said in the release. "Through a collaborative effort, the Bridge program matches high school standards with college expectations, improves access, accountability and affordability. Bridge provides participants with information about post-secondary education, fosters potential and provides enrichment opportunities."

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