Now that the calendar has turned to February, HS223 has put their JTerm to a close.
Called a “JTerm” since the options given to students happens in January, members of the HS223 class of 2026 and 2027 attended Hostos Community College during the entire month as fully enrolled college students. Students participated in the program called CollegeNow which allowed them to obtain college credits during the month.
Besides giving students a closer look at college life, the J-term program goes deeper by equipping them with essential academic skills. Students were able to take classes such as Business 101, Business 102, Linguistics 102 and Web Design.
The JTerm helps students grow beyond what they typically experience in high school classrooms.
“It teaches them time-management skills, and it develops your writing and discussion skills more than regular high school classes,” said HS223 college counselor Brittni Ortiz.
Members of the Hostos community also saw the benefits in a JTerm because it prepares students for college-level expectations.
“I think it gives them insight,” he explained. “They now understand the difference. It’s the experience of discovering something on their own, rather than having someone push it out of them and tell them what to do” said Professor Titus who taught Linguistics 102.
In addition to being in a new learning environment, HS223 students also represented some of the youngest students that these college professor had ever taught.
“They are college-bound students, and I think they need not only to appreciate what they are receiving, but also to be in touch with themselves,” said Professor Titus.
HS223 prides itself with getting students prepared for college through their PBAT process and students were able to put this to the test at Hostos during JTerm. Students came to Hostos understanding their purpose and what they needed to do.
“They need to understand their goals, rather than viewing college as merely a continuation of high school,” said Ortiz.
Students had different reactions to the experience
“I’m in Linguistics 102. The class itself is something I would not recommend because it’s a very writing heavy class. We are always expected to write two essays a week and journals,” said Ashley Juarez (Class of 2027).
Even though they were technically “in college”, students still still needed help from home to find success.
“Having a parent that is really on you about grades motivates me to make sure I’m doing my best academically” Aliany Batista (Class of 2026) reveals.
But students really liked the change in their daily schedule.
“I feel like the two hours we get before class starts is really nice. If you have to make something up you are able to do it within that time,” said Ashley.
But free credits are something that will help keep students coming back for JTerm for years to come.
“This experience will be beneficial since I’m a senior and I’m going to college. The professor is always giving us multiple assignments. It’s good preparation for when I actually experience the work load,” said Aliany.
