Winter break ended a week early for some Natrona County High School students. They were up bright and early Monday morning, studying in the high school's library.

The students are attending Winter Bridges this week, a five-day program to keep them caught up on schoolwork. For high school students, Winter Bridges is an opportunity to make up credits from failed classes.

"I should have all this stuff done," said Hawkins Kipp, a tenth-grader. "I kind of wish I could have done it last week. I'm missing work this week to do this."

Hawkins and Daniel Claycomb, also a tenth-grader, said they appreciated having the chance to make up their work.

"We just come here and do work we missed," Daniel said. "It's good."

Winter Bridges is a district-wide program, now in its second year. Reading tutor Rick Arner said many teenagers who attend Bridges are on the verge of being very successful students. Arner runs the Bridges program at Natrona County.

"Maybe the kids were sick the last week or so. Maybe there's a concept they didn't understand about a lesson. Maybe life circumstances just got in the way," Arner said. "They need a chance to get a passing grade and we understand that."

For senior Jonathan Heuring, the winter session is enough time to make-up for a failing grade in his government and economics class.

"I was more worried about my friends than school work at the time, and I realized I had to change that around," Jonathan said.

And the week-long winter session is much more appealing to the 17-year-old than spending a chunk of his summer in school.

"I came to Winter Bridges so I could graduate," Jonathan said.

Arner said it's really up to students to take the initiative to earn a passing grade.

"They carry that responsibility," he said. "The kids here are so close to success…some might take an hour, some may want to take all five days."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.