FAIRMONT- This year Fairmont Elementary School has expanded the scope of its academic intervention system.

Student Opportunities for Academic Responsibility (SOAR) is a daily 45 minute period wherein elementary classes are split into smaller groups which work with a team of instructors who can focus more on the needs of individual students. In previous years these groups were for students who were struggling with specific skills, but this year SOAR has been extended to include all members of the student body.

“We’re trying to give what every student needs at that time,” said elementary co-principal Michelle Rosen.

These changes have been in the works for several years but their implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic limiting how teachers can interact with students in the classroom.

The elementary school’s SOAR team consists of four certified teachers and four academic aides who rotate between different grades over the course of the day. SOAR teachers have previously worked as elementary school teachers at Fairmont elementary or elsewhere. Regular elementary teachers also work with small groups during SOAR.

The expansion of the program allows all students to work in groups where they can focus on their individual needs while receiving more individual attention from an instructor.

Another major benefit of the expansion is that it includes all students in the same program and environment without separating them from their peers and instructors.

“It’s not singling out students in any way; everybody is going to get what they need from the location where they end up at,” said one of the elementary school’s SOAR teachers.

“We’re trying to build that intervention to not be because (students) are behind, but because it’s what (students) need,” said Rosen.

Thus far SOAR has focused on improving students’ literacy, but begin to incorporate mathematics and some other areas of the curriculum as the school year progresses.

The expansion of the program is largely possible due to Fairmont’s high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch which qualify it for particular programs and financial assistance.

This week Wednesday was also the first day of SOAR at Fairmont High School, but this program is significantly different when compared to SOAR at the elementary school.