Posted: 7/16/03

A new kind of summer school

Joe Drennan

Staff Writer

For most kids, summer means a time for sleeping in, playing with friends, and not even mentioning the word school. For just over 800 Forest Lake kids though, they are thinking about school every day.

For the Forest Lake kids who are enrolled in summer school, summer school is not what it used to be. Not too long ago it seemed the kids who were in summer school were there because they slacked off during the regular school year. These days, kids who are in summer school are there because they want to be.

The summer school curriculum for elementary school kids is to keep the kids minds in a learning mode and to keep them involved. For junior high student, the focus is on the transition from elementary school to junior high. The high school students are able to take classes to improve upon what they might have had troubles with during the regular school year.

ìSummer school has become more than the troubled kids, it is keeping skills going and keeping the students thinking,î said Coordinator of Summer School Gayle McGrane.

For the students going into seventh grade, they have noticed some things they like and dislike about the difference in atmosphere between summer school and the regular school year.

Student thoughts

A few Forest Lake students spoke about their summer school experiences, and what they have found different from the regular school year.

ìThere are a lot more kids from different schools,î seventh grader James Landsberger said.

Seventh grader Samantha Cox noted that she doesnít know everyone because they come from different schools, and Ali Rilea mentioned it is harder to make friends since she does not know everyone.

ìWhen we found out there was no Phy-Ed, that was a big bummer,î Landsberger said.

The seventh grade trio also liked the lunch menu. ìThey always have pizza...everyday,î Cox said.

One thing the students havenít noticed, was the fact they were being taught multiple subjects at once. ìThis is more of thematic learning, the maths, sciences, social studies, all in one,î McGrane said.

When asked if she liked summer school, Rilea responded, ìsummer school is a blast and the teachers are really sweet.î

Wylie Larson is going into the eight grade and loves summer school. ìAll my friends are bored and have nothing to do all day but sleep and watch TV, but not me,î Larson said.

Larson not only sees summer school as an activity to keep him busy during the day, but he also sees the value in it.

ìSummer school is supposed to make you accomplish things and get ready for the eighth grade so I can pass basic skills and not have to do it again,î Larson said.

Eleventh grader Bradeden Ashton couldnít agree more with Larson.

ìItís a second chance,î Ashton said. ìIt (summer school) gets everyone to concentrate a little better on what they were supposed to do.

Ashton also appreciates the extra time he thinks he has to work on assignments. ìI find that it is a little more laid back so I can take the time I need to get it done,î Ashton said.

ìThe perception is that the students have more time because they only have two classes that are two hours and forty-five minutes long, but it isnít an enormously more amount of time since the semester is cut back by four weeks compared to the regular school year,î McGrane said.

ìIíd push for school year round if I could,î Ashton said. ìSchool is my favorite place to be.î

Top of Page