Staff Writer

Educators at Schenevus Central School are helping to expand the horizons of students whose interests reach beyond typical academics.

Named "Horizons," the program was developed by district Superintendent Ed Shultis and high school science teacher JoAnn Fredette, who teach the class as a team.

A study hall period was transformed into the class, in which six juniors have spent the past year building a mini roller coaster, launching hot air balloons and organizing a food drive.

Their most ambitious project to date — a field trip to a first-grade class in Harlem — will start today.

"They do things that they wouldn't normally do in the classroom," Fredette said.

"For us, it was an opportunity to do something special. For me, it was a nice way to see another aspect to my kids."

The group leaves for New York City this morning and will spend Thursday with the first-graders at the Harlem Day Charter School, teaching the kids a little bit about what it's like to live in the country.

Shultis said the Horizons class put together a 70-slide powerpoint presentation of information and photos from Schenevus first-graders that describes and depicts their lives in the country.

The goal, Shultis said, will be for first-graders in both schools to exchange information about country and city life.

"This is a way for first-graders to share culture with inner city students, and to compare and contrast life in poor, rural areas with life in the inner city," Shultis said.

It is hoped that the Harlem students will visit the Schenevus students next fall for an overnight trip, Shultis said.

"They are so excited," Fredette said. "I hope they have a really good experience."

Shultis, who once taught a similar class before he became an administrator, said organizing Horizons was a way for him to once again experience the kind of day-to-day contact with students he had as a teacher.

"When you're superintendent, you only get to see students at concerts or when they get sent to the office," Shultis said. "This is a way to expand the students' horizons and to help explore their abilities and what's out there."

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