CedarBridge Academy has won the support of students, parents and the public at large.

But there is still much work to be done in raising the performance level of students.

Principal Ernest Payette disclosed this in a candid interview with The Royal Gazette at the end of CedarBridge's first school year.

And he said the Island's first senior secondary school aimed to do this by implementing a five-pronged school improvement plan in September.

Speaking between numerous interruptions by staff members pressed to complete end-of-term tasks, Mr. Payette said: "The public at large has been mostly positive. People who meet me casually and are not attached to the school say `You are doing a good job. Keep it up'.

"I guess I keep getting down on myself because my expectations were too large and we should have been way ahead of where we are.

"There are concerns given the magnitude of what we have had to deal with. But the response from the public at large has been very positive.'' Mr. Payette said the school -- which encountered a rocky start when it opened its doors last September -- was now flooded with support.

"Volunteers have been absolutely wonderful,'' he said, particularly referring to the reading programme. "They have come through the growing pains with an absolutely amazing response.'' A recent analysis of the programme, which is still in its infancy stage, showed that it has been a success, Mr. Payette noted.

"Its success is well beyond what we expected,'' he said. "It has been so successful we're going to need some help coordinating all the volunteers.'' Improvements had also been noticed in parental involvement, he added.

"In terms of the parent population I feel we have won that battle,'' he said.

More than 150 people, including students, turned out at the last PTA meeting.

And Mr. Payette noted: "There wasn't one person who said anything negative.

Some had legitimate concerns about various issues, such as truancy, but it was all constructive.'' The behaviour of some students, as a result of the influence of the student government, had also dramatically improved, he said.

However, Mr. Payette admitted there were still problems at the school.

"One of the areas of concern I still have is to provide the support for our young people to be at the level they should be performing at,'' he said.

"We need to up the performance of students.'' CedarBridge aimed to do this through the school's 1998/99 improvement plan.

The plan centres around empowering staff and improving communication.

Student performance needs to be improved School plans to raise intensity It also includes improving discipline, developing school pride, strengthening staff as a cohesive team, improving attendance, and implementing instructional practices that address students' diverse needs.

"We're looking at providing in-class support -- moving to an advisor/advisee programme so staff can stay in closer touch with parents to check on assignments and attendance,'' Mr. Payette explained.

The programme will also allow CedarBridge's 96 teachers to help students develop good learning and organisational skills -- something many students lack.

"We're looking at increasing the intensity of the student and their engagement in work,'' he said. "We will also look at how we teach these young people.'' In addition to introducing some eight new programmes in September -- ranging from English to science, the school will operate on a two-semester system.

This, Mr. Payette explained, meant students will take no more than six courses during the school term.

"This will provide students with an opportunity to regain lost ground,'' he said. "Rather than two days of eight different courses, they will take no more than six courses -- and some as few as four -- so there is an intense continuum of those subjects.

"Rather than trying to cover more in terms of quantity, the emphasis will be on quality. Once we improve their skills, then we can increase the courses.'' The only drawback to such an arrangement was that students will not have the time to take many optional courses, Mr. Payette noted. But that would change as their performance in core subjects improved.

Considering the school's state-of-the-art facilities -- the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium is set to be finished by September and work is to begin on a playing field -- Mr. Payette said he hoped more students would join in extracurricular activities such as sports, drama, music, science and computer clubs.

"I'm looking forward to September because I think we want to improve ourselves,'' he concluded. "We know what we have here because the potential that this school provides is incredible.

"Most of the young people are buying into this. That to me is the most important part of all this. We've won the battle when our young people want to be here.

"The next battle is ensuring that we provide the best education possible and that they take advantage of this.'' Ernest Payette Graphic file name: ERNIE