Rushing through the cafeteria in hopes of avoiding the dreaded car line, you may notice a group of boys crowding around a lunch table overflowing with snacks. This after-school gathering is called the A.C.E. Program: Academic Center for Excellence. Started by mothers of freshmen football players in past years, the program strives to encourage young student athletes to take advantage of the time between school and football practice to get homework done. The program is held in the cafeteria Monday through Wednesday from 2:30-3:30pm.

After signing in and grabbing food provided by the parents, the boys sit down and take time to decompress their minds after a long school day. They are quickly put back on track by volunteer parents who oversee the boys and insure they are making good use of their time. Teachers and National Honor Society students are available to answer any of their questions and provide extra help. Most of the boys use this time to bond with their fellow teammates while seizing the opportunity to get a start on their homework.

Volunteer mother Kate Bridgeman dedicates her afternoons to furthering the boys’ education. She strongly believes in establishing good study habits early on in one’s high school career. When asked about the program she said, “The boys learn to put their school work first.”

Freshman Devin Brown was diligently working on homework when he was asked his opinion on the program. “It really helps me manage my time after practice,” he said as he chose a bagel from the food table. Other than the one or two boys who seemed to be using the time to relax, most of the participants in the A.C.E. Program use this time efficiently. This program provides educational assistance, which helps the demanding lives of those on the freshman football team.

School work, extra curricular  activities, and keeping up with friends is typically a stressful balancing act, but Scituate’s  A.C.E. Program helps decrease some of the intensity that comes with being in high school.