The 2025-2026 school year officially began August 4, but one group of students got a jump start the week before. PCHS’s Getting Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) is a special summer program that gives students, especially incoming freshmen, with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) the opportunity to jump-start their transition to high school.
The week-long program was led by Angela Manders. A former educator with Pierce County Schools and the former director of the Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Manders currently serves as the Central South Program Coordinator for Georgia High School High Tech (HSHT). HSHT works with students throughout the year, but the GROW event represents a special sneakpeek into school and work life for new highschoolers.
In addition to presentations by community speakers, the GROW event included a self-advocacy workshop, money management tips, resume writing practice, post-secondary and industry field trips and team building activities.
