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.
Monday, students spent time getting to know each other by playing 'Would You Rather” and enjoyed a presentation by Dr. Sherida Habersham on assistive technology, including emerging applications of A.I.
Tuesday, Colonel Vernon Atkinson discussed meeting employer expectations and developing leadership skills. His presentation conclude with a simulated teamwork experience that involved teams staying together on a tarp that represented a capsized boat while working together to flip it over.
Wednesday, the students received their class schedules and took an early tour of the school in anticipation of Thursday’s Open House event.. Afterward, the students learned about self-advocacy followed by a goal-setting session.
Thursday the GROW group traveled to South Georgia State College in Waycross to tour the library and learn about various scholarships and financial aid programs that are available.
Friday, the class visited downtown Blackshear to meet with the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Christi Pitts and Vice President Stephanie Bell where they learned about the various functions of the chamber and the different metrics by which the civic health of a community is measured. After that, they went to City Hall and met with different officials, including Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright.
As a special incentive to students, a $25 Wal-Mart gift card was given away to one lucky student each day. Also, at the end of the week, one of the students who had attended all five days of events won a brand new Chromebook.
As part of their goal-setting exercises, students talked about their future careers. The possible future careers were as diverse as the students, including welders, professional athletes, judges, EMT workers, authors and more.
