Mezzo Academy
The Mezzo Academy provides events, family activities, and academic support for students in grades 6-8.
The Mezzo Academy currently serves Fruzen Middle School and Aldrich Middle School in Beloit.
The Mezzo Academy, designed for students in grades 6-8, offers Academic and Curricular Enhancement (ACE) sessions, educational workshops, family activities, and comprehensive academic support. Students can also apply for a two-week summer academic enrichment program.
Mezzo participants form the foundation of the Help Yourself Programs. Their energy, enthusiasm, respect, and sense of exploration are inspirational to student staff and Pre-Collegiate participants. An emphasis on experiential learning and holistic enrichment typifies Mezzo programming.
Academic Year Program
During the academic year, Mezzo Academy students can take advantage of ACE sessions, educational workshops, and other activities to support their college preparation.
Academic & Curricular Enhancement (ACE)
ACE occurs during the academic year at Fruzen Middle School on Mondays and Aldrich Middle School on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 PM. College students and Help Yourself staff will be available to assist you in any subject area.
In addition to enhancing their understanding of core subject areas, students who attend ACE will be able to improve their skills in areas such as writing, critical analysis, time management, study skills, and organization.
Thursday Workshops
Nearly every Thursday, students are invited to attend educational workshops. These workshops will be led by Beloit College students and held on the Beloit College campus. Students will be bused from their school to the Beloit College campus. Parents are responsible for picking up their children after the workshops.
The Thursday workshops are centered around three general rules of conduct: respect, participation, and positivity/open-mindedness.
Students will participate in a variety of workshops throughout the semester. Some examples of past Thursday workshops include a Beloit International Film Festival workshop, a yoga and hip-hop dance workshop, a geology workshop, and an improv workshop.
Monthly Workshops
Saturday workshops will be offered several times throughout the year to help you and your family prepare for college.
The same rules of conduct apply for the Saturday workshops as for the Thursday workshops.
Examples of past workshops include a science workshop, the HYP Olympics, an Education workshop, and the Multicultural Fun Fair.
Summer Program
Mezzo Academy students may have the opportunity to participate in a two-week summer program, held on the Beloit College campus. This program, designed for students entering grades 6th-8th, provides students the opportunity for enrichment in math, science, language arts, social studies, and the arts, with classroom and experiential learning opportunities ranging from outdoor activities to field trips. The primary objective of the program is to deepen students’ interest and understanding of how to pursue a college education and a career that requires a college degree, while also providing students with positive learning environments to develop social and academic skills. The program is facilitated by one full-time staff member, 4-6 college student teaching assistants, and 3-4 teachers.
Summer Program applications are accepted beginning July 15, 2025, and are due by Friday, July 25, 2025. If you are new to Help Yourself, you can request an application by clicking “APPLY” on the left side of this page. Summer applications for newcomers are due by July 25, 2025.
The 2025 Mezzo Academy Summer Program will take place from August 4 to 8, 2025.