Summer Students

School's out. Ocean Breeze Elementary students and faculty celebrated their last day of summer school on Friday. From left, Grace Dwight, teacher Adam Lang, Devin Dolnik and Tracy Balelo work on a project in the Art and Writing Enrichment class.

An article appeared in the Florida Today last week that detailed Devin's summer school. It was written by Kate Brennan. The link to there website can be found at the end of this article.

When 9-year-old Skylar Etheridge woke up Friday to his last day of summer school, his first thought was "Hallelujah!"

For the past month, the Ocean Breeze Elementary student sacrificed lazy mornings, skateboarding and time with friends for extra reading and math lessons. Now, Skylar said he plans to maximize the last five weeks of summer with sleepovers and trips to Orlando's theme parks.

"I'm excited about summer," he said. "I can have fun with my friends now and stay out late."

Summer vacation officially began Friday for more than 15,000 students who participated in Brevard Public Schools' Summer Opportunities for Acceleration and Remediation program, which includes classes for struggling students and enrichment camps for advanced students.

About 2,000 more students than last year participated in summer programs -- growth that's likely a result of expanded enrichment offerings this year at each of the district's 82 schools.

For some students, attending summer school could make the difference between being promoted to the next grade or repeating a grade. Enrichment camps, including Spanish, music and art classes, offered other students a chance to learn more.

At Ocean Breeze in Indian Harbour Beach, nearly 100 students attended remediation courses and 15 participated in the school's first arts and writing camp. Principal Colleen Skinner said summer programs give students of all levels a chance to strengthen their skills before the school year starts Aug. 9.

"With smaller class sizes and a more narrow focus, teachers are really able to intensify instruction," Skinner said.

Although reading became more enjoyable and math problems easier for Johnathan Flack, the 11-year-old said he couldn't wait to "finally stop doing school stuff."

"It's finally over and now I can hang out with all my friends and sleep until noon," said Johnathan, who ate popcorn and watched the Disney movie "Aladdin" from his desk.

But 8-year-old Jada Pantin said she wasn't ready for the program to end.

"I wanted it to last a little bit longer," she said. "I like learning."

At Apollo Elementary in Titusville, Sharon Davis' fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students bent their heads over reading and math assignments while Davis finished some last day paperwork. She said the reading program breaks down large chunks of material into smaller, more digestible bits, allowing students to succeed and move on to the next level.

"It gives them more self-esteem," Davis said. "This is something they can accelerate in."

In the building next door, music teacher Sheila King led a group of first- and second-graders in playing tubanos --African drums -- while their parents took pictures. "Drumroll!" King exclaimed, right before the children enthusiastically complied, slapping their hands rhythmically on the drums' skins.

King said 51 students enrolled in the music enrichment camp -- a new summer program at the school. Students not only learned music, but teamwork and other important social skills, she said.

For students, it was all about the fun.

"I like hitting (the instruments)," said Mackenzie Nelson, 6.

At Jupiter Elementary in Palm Bay, Larry Jacques, 4, poured containers of water over his head as his pre-kindergarten summer school class celebrated the ocean.

"We've been talking about the ocean, and we can't easily go there, so we're doing the next best thing," teacher Stephanie Harman said.

Students like Jacob Mancilla, 4, sat in a kiddie pool bucketing water or slid on his belly on a slip-and-slide sprinkler.

"Watch me," he said, pouring water onto the slide to make it wetter.

In a classroom nearby, fourth-grader Anthony Shim, 10, wrote a story using his imagination about what would happen if you gave a 10-year-old a driver's license.

"He'd get a candy-red Ferrari," Brockett explained, saying that's what he'd do. Then, he said, he'd drive to New York City.

About 230 students -- or more than a quarter of students who attended Jupiter last year -- participated in summer school programs, said Principal Cynthia Harris.

"It's been very successful," she said. "Our testing was completed on Thursday and for sixth grade, 85 percent met the percentile they needed."

Link to Article