After a day trip to Marist College where 20 Lawrence eighth and ninth grade girls were introduced to an institution of higher learning, some of those young teens, along with other girls in fifth through 12th grades showered their moms with appreciation at the inaugural mother-daughter dinner on May 8.
Thursday’s activities began with a 6:45 a.m. bus ride to Poughkeepsie, where the girls took part in a group activity with peers from schools in New York City, received information on being prepared for college and campus life, had lunch, took a tour of Marist and participated in a group discussion.
“We want to plant a seed in the minds of the girls,” said Lawrence Middle School Assistant Principal Christine Moore about the opportunities available them. She was one of the faculty members, along with eighth grade guidance counselor Linda Kelsch, high school counselor Karen Staller and district dance teacher Laila Sales who chaperoned the district-offered visit.
“It’s a lot of work and a lot more to college you can experience,” said eighth-grader Aaliyah Croft, who is interested in being on the cheer team and possibly studying business and/or fashion design when she gets to college.
Divided into groups, the girls had to determine the admissions of four students. They were given information such as grade point average, SAT scores and activities about the candidates. It turned out the groups accepted two students, waitlisted one and rejected one. “You have to prepare today for college and do a lot of activities and learn different things,” said eighth-grader Jessica Fuller, who does cheer.