Not your father’s summer school

During the state budget crisis several years ago, Sonoma Valley schools had to radically reduce its summer school programs.  But since that time, as funds have become available, we have been able to add summer programs that are strategically designed to serve students with particular needs.  Much of the funding for these programs has come from the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and the Sonoma County Vintners and Growers.

This year, over 1,000 students are enrolled in summer programs.  Attendance at summer school is not mandatory.  The District issues invitations to students to attend specific programs, and the response has been very strong.  Summer school has become much more of an attraction or an opportunity than a punishment, which is how it may have been viewed by many in the past.

At Sassarini School, about three hundred first through third graders are attending the Summer Reading and Writing Academy.  These students are close to grade level in reading, but need extra support to come closer to the benchmark for their grade.  In addition, some of the students read well, but do not particularly enjoy it.

The Summer Reading and Writing Academy emphasizes high interest materials, selected for each student.  If a child is interested in race cars, the teachers find books that relate to that interest. In addition, students can create videos that demonstrate what they have learned.  These students respond enthusiastically to this program, and often change from reluctant readers to engaged readers in a single summer.

At Prestwood School, about seventy kindergarten through third grade students are attending Jump into Reading.  New this year, Jump into Reading serves students who need a significant boost in their reading skills or are at risk of not being ready to work at grade level.  The focus is on teaching reading fundamentals, including phonics and word attack skills.

At Adele Harrison Middle School, there are about two hundred fourth through seventh graders attending the Accelerated Language and Technology Academy.  This program focuses on English Language Learners who need additional learning time in reading and writing.  The technology focus provides a platform for engaging students in language instruction.

At Sonoma Valley High School, there are over five hundred students participating in a variety of programs.  We are fortunate to have a huge interest in our Bridge to Algebra class.  Over eighty incoming freshman are devoting their summer to this algebra prep class.  Based on a model developed by Stanford researchers, the classes are team taught, with two teachers for each section.  This allows students to work in small groups and to focus on the areas where they need the most work.

Also at the High School, some incoming ninth graders are taking required classes such as Geometry or Living Skills, so that they free up room in their schedules for another elective in the fall.

In addition, the high school is offering online history classes for students who need to improve their grades in classes that they already have taken.  Other classes have a similar goal, but are taught in a more traditional way.

As to all of these programs, Sonoma Valley school employees will evaluate the effectiveness through pre and post testing.  For Bridge to Algebra, for example, we find that enrolled students do better in their freshman Algebra classes than their peers who do not take the summer course.

Creekside High School principal Sydney Smith also serves as the summer school principal, and she oversees the programs underway throughout the District.  She is backed up by over two hundred employees, including teachers, classroom aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and more.  We provide good jobs to folks, many of whom live in the Valley.  These payroll dollars are often spent in Sonoma, and provide a boost to the local economy.  It’s a win-win-win-win proposition benefitting students, families, staff and the community!