Student Support Programs

Academic Language Development (ALD)

ALD is designed to support reclassified English Learners in narrative and expository reading, comprehension, essay writing, vocabulary development, and use of spoken language in the core content areas. Effective organization and study skills will be integrated into the curriculum. The course will prepare English Learners for success in using listening, speaking, reading and writing in high school college preparation (A-G) courses. This class is intended for students who are English Learners or Reclassified English Learner (RFEP) and have been recommended by their teacher or school counselor.

Travis Vander Velden teaches ALD and is the English Learners Coordinator. 

Click here for more information about PAUSD English Language Development Programs.

AVID

AVID stands for Achievement Via Individual Determination. The AVID elective targets 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in the academic middle who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but may be falling short of their potential. AVID is a year-long class where students learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and questioning techniques, get academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college seem attainable. Students are selected through a recommendation and interview process. Academic performance, attitude, and other qualifying factors make a student eligible for the AVID program. Usually, the AVID Coordinator will contact a student and his/her parents directly to participate in the program. More information is available online at www.avidonline.org

Joleen Roach teaches and coordinates Greene's AVID program.

Drama Club

Greene's Drama Club is a troupe of the International Thespian Society: #88306. Students earn membership through participation in after-school productions, seeing shows, & classroom performance. The Drama Club meets every WEDNESDAY during LUNCH in ROOM B-3  (exact day may change for the 2026-27 year) to discuss club business, prepare for shows, and do drama exercises. The Drama Club is the official sponsor of all After-School Productions, including a Musical, a large-cast Play, and a Drama Club Play. Students help select the plays, and support productions with fund-raisers and sweat equity. In turn, they earn points toward full Thespian membership or honors. There are opportunities to travel to regional or state-wide Drama competitions and workshops. A banquet in May celebrates and honors all Thespians and their participation over the year. Thespian membership is for life; students can transfer membership into a High School troupe when they leave Greene.

For more information, contact our drama teacher, Sarah Thermond 

The Homework Center --> JAWS

The new and improved Homework Center, now called JAWS (Jaguar Academic Wellness Support) is open to all students. It is held in the library from 3:15 to 4:30 Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. It is a place to do homework and receive help if needed. Volunteer tutors, administrators, and staff members are on hand to help and support students with their assignments. To attend JAWS, students MUST be referred by a staff member, usually to work on specific tasks identified by teacher and student. They complete a form that will be used to help monitor completion of their work. Staff supervisor of JAWS for 2018-19 TBD.

Behavioral Expectations

• In order to have JAWS be most helpful to students; certain behavioral expectations will be strictly enforced. There is no random chatter/talking. Students may ONLY discuss homework while in the center. There is no socializing. The assumption is that students want to work on their given task(s).
• Students having difficulty following the rules for JAWS will be given one warning to help them modify their behavior. If problems persist, the student will be asked to leave and given a note explaining why they were asked to leave. Students who are asked to leave will be able to re-enter the following day only if they have had this letter signed by a parent.

Proof of Attendance

• Students' attendance is digitally recorded each time they come to HWC. Their JAWS form will be verified and signed by the staff coordinator in attendance.

Leadership

The Leadership class is designed to provide students the opportunity to help create and organize student activities at Greene. Students will be expected to spend time beyond the class period and outside the school day to perform these activities.

Leadership students will analyze important leadership skills throughout the semester. Students will practice organization and planning skills as they work in committees and organize activities. They will examine group dynamics and gain skills in time and stress management, activity planning, public speaking, and self-awareness.

Leadership is taught by Joleen Roach. For more information, visit the Leadership & Activities page.

Math Workshop

Math Workshop is intended for students who may need extra help in order to be successful in their math classes. In a relaxed, supportive environment with no more than 15-18 students and a math teacher who is familiar with their respective grade level program, students will work with 8th grade tutors to help them meet their individual math needs. Through individual and small group tutoring, organizational help, games, and computer programs, students will learn how to succeed in math.

Patricia Malone teaches 6th grade Math Workshop, Kourtney Kientzy teaches 7th grade Math Workshop, and Mieko Van Kirk teaches 8th grade Math Workshop.

Reading Enhancement 

This class is intended for students who would benefit from extra reading instruction in order to be successful in their academic classes. It has a specifically designed, research-based, curriculum to aide learners with reading strategies. The course will focus on increasing comprehension and vocabulary through a combination of reading, writing, and phonics/word study. Students will learn to pay special attention to genre and the features of fiction and nonfiction texts through disciplinary reading.

Diane Darrow teaches Reading Enhancement.

Resource Programs

Students who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be enrolled in an Academic Planning class for 6th,  7th and 8th grade. This class will take the place of one elective course each semester. Academic Planning is designed to teach students the skills and strategies necessary to support organization, to provide support for academic classes and to prepare these students to become self-advocates and independent students. This class is not open to students who do not have an active IEP.

Greene has the following resource programs beyond Academic Planning:

• Speech and Language
• Special Day - "Extensive Support Needs" - Classes
• Therapeutic Support Class

Click here for more information about resource programs in PAUSD.