Article by Tanner Frahm
Norfolk High School's AFS (Alternatives for Success) program has been a help to kids who are currently at-risk since August of 1997. This program has continually helped these kids pursue their goal of graduating from high school and someday getting a job. Recently the AFS program has relocated to its new location at 601 W. Cedar Avenue, right across from the Norfolk High School's track and field facility. Now that it is across the street and not downtown, the staff and administration can be more of a help during the school hours.
One of these ways that the new location has to offer is that the students have the ability to use the school's library or any other part of the building that may be a help to them. Also, the new location provides a short and safe walking distance for the kids if they would ever need to come into the school building. "We are hoping that some of the kids eventually take classes over at the high school so that they can feel like they are part of the student body," Becki Wulf, coordinator and teacher of the AFS program, said.
The new AFS building was once used as a former maintenance building, which meant that a lot of remodeling had to be done on it. After a vote for approval by the Norfolk Public School's Board of Education for the new building, the now newly located AFS program was ready for remodeling last October. After a long while of remodeling and fixing up that was finally completed in the late fall of last season, the AFS building was ready for use the second semester of the 2015-16 school year.
Now that the AFS program is closer to the High School, the AFS program now has more possibilities for these students to develop many different tasks that can help them find success in the world. One of these, belonging, can become more effective because now these students can have a greater chance of feeling like they truly belong to the school. Not only does this new location benefit different students in long-term situations, but this location also helps students value and understand the true values of education and the desire to be educated. "The AFS program gives these students an alternative to a school atmosphere and still not drop out of school and classes," Mrs. Wulf said.
On average, the amount of students who attend the AFS program can vary depending on the circumstances. However, no matter what the number of students actually is, the mission of the AFS program is the same for every student: to provide students with the ability to finish their high school life and to continue to work toward the many goals in their lives. "I work with about fifty students on a regular basis and every single student helps my heart grow every day I am here with them," Mrs. Wulf said.
To read more great articles written by NHS students see the April 2016 Panther Newspaper!
