School District offers summer learning opportunities
There are numerous offerings for elementary school aged children this summer to either help prepare them for school, or slow down the “summer slide.”
There is both a virtual option and in-person learning opportunities, some open to all students, others by invitation only.
The first, and only virtual program, Expanded Virtual Learning Summer Program for elementary students – kindergarten through fourth grade, provides practice in literacy and math through the iReady program.
“The program that the students use during the school year, they continue to work on over the summer. It helps to sharpen their skills exactly where they are at,” School District of Lee County Literacy Curriculum Coordinator Kym Bisbe said. “It assesses them before the summer and pinpoints the skills that they are struggling in (and provides) lessons and opportunities for practice.”
The program runs from June 23, through July 17. Families must enroll by May 23, as students take a Chromebook home for the summer, so they have a steady computer to be able to use.
“Enrollment has already started,” Bisbe said. “The deadline to enroll is to make sure they have computers in hand and updated with software.”
Students are to complete 45 minutes a week for each subject, reading and math. The program will continue to test the students on how they are doing and move them along appropriately.
An assistant principal oversees the program over the summer and will monitor all the student’s work. The assistant principal also will talk with families through Google Classrooms and provide encouragement and spotlighting children coming along strong.
The program also will flag those students who may be struggling, resulting in the assistant principal reaching out to the family to provide real time support, so the student can move forward.
Other programs are in person and prepare VPK students through third grade students.
The district offers a summer school Voluntary Pre-K program, which is for those students who have not been enrolled in a VPK program prior to this summer. Students must be at least 4 years old to participate.
“That is a 300 required hour program,” Bisbe said. “That one is really important.”
The program will be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 9, through July 31, at the Early Childhood Learning Center and G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School. Transportation is offered.
There is another program for 4-year-olds. The Summer Bridge Program is for children who have already taken VPK, but testing indicates that they need additional help. Bisbe said the invitation program is for those students who scored at a level where they would not have solid footing going into kindergarten.
“They have to qualify for that one,” she said. “The families will get a letter sent to them offering the program.”
The program is offered at the Early Childhood Learning Center, G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School, James Stephens Elementary School, and J. Colin Elementary School. The program is Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. There is no transportation provided for this program.
A third-grade reading program, invitation only, is offered to students who may be retained. The program helps sharpen their skills and possibly move them onto fourth grade, instead of being retained. This program is offered in person from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, through Tuesday.
“They supply busing for those kids,” Bisbe said.
The district also offers an extended year for ESE kids – pre-K through fifth grade, who have a learning disability of some sort.
“They qualify through their individualized education plan,” she said.
For students, second through fifth grade, who have a language need – English is their second language – and have received services for under a year in English, qualify for the camp.
More information about the programs can be sought by visiting www.leeschools.net, or by contacting the child’s school.