SULLIVAN — Instead of catching the rays during the recent spring break, about 20 Sumner Memorial High School students hunkered down in classrooms to do whatever they needed to in order to pass or complete a course.

The second chance is made available through Student Credit Opportunities for Recovery and Enrichment through Standards (SCORES), which gives students an opportunity to complete work or raise a failing grade during their vacation periods.

James Hayward, a sophomore from Gouldsboro, said he was skirting the edge in health and biology but the quiet classroom April 16, 17 and 18 improved his focus.

“It helps quite a bit,” said Hayward, who participated in the first credit recovery program in February and bumped up his English grade.

Ian Smith, a freshman from Winter Harbor, needed to catch up on math homework and hoped to boost a failing grade in science.

“It’s helpful,” he said. “It gives you a quieter environment.”

Ideally, organizers say, the program during vacation periods will eventually morph more into enrichment classes as students take advantage of another aspect of SCORES — tutoring from 7 a.m. to the first bell and after school two days a week.

Math teacher and program coordinator Duaine Adkins said the way SCORES works is teachers provide a list of assignments to complete and skills to master.

The student, a parent, the teacher and a SCORES coordinator then sign a contract agreeing to the terms.

“A driving force that makes this program successful is that once the students are done, they are done,” Adkins said. “If it takes one day to demonstrate proficiency, it takes one day. If it takes five days, it takes five days.”

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