Nekoosa Academy is an alternative program in the Nekoosa School district.  The teacher is Ann Lepak and the teacher assistant/secretary is Sarah O’Day.  The program’s hours are from 7:15 am until 3:45 pm.  The students attend a morning session, 8:30 am until 11:30 am, or the afternoon session, 12:45 pm until 3:45 pm.  There are currently 24 students who attend this program; 14 of them are on track to graduate in June 2008.

Unlike the high school, where you receive little bits of homework each day, in this program you receive all of your work at the beginning of each semester.  The students work at their own pace knowing that half of their school work must be completed at the end of the quarter and fully completed at the end of the semester.

Some of their classes are through an internet program called Nova Net.  Nova Net has lessons, quizzes, and test for each subject.  This is an alternative way for them to learn besides the traditional textbooks, which we also use.

Two additional credits the students must receive are Microsoft Office Suit and work experience.  The students have the chance to be certified in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.  In order to obtain a credit in Microsoft, they have to be certified in at least Microsoft Word 2003.  Along with Microsoft, they have to be working outside of school.  Whether it is a job or community service, they are expected to work at least 15 hours a week to obtain the credit.

All the students at the Academy are taking advantage of their second chance to graduate.  Here is what some students have to say about the program:

“I prefer to work at my own pace and I am not competing with anybody else.”
“If it wasn’t for this program, there is no way I’d be starting college in the fall.”
“I am able to get the one on one help I need to be able to complete and understand my school work.”