Samuel Staples Elementary School’s Summer Academy began two years ago funded by Covid relief funds, and the successful program will be offered again this summer.
Kristina Faiella, a first-grade teacher and co-director of the program, said academy classes are taught by SSES school staff and are open to students in kindergarten through the fifth grade during the entire month of July.
“This program helps with students who may have missed out on activities or may have been a little academically behind after coming out of a pandemic,” Faiella said. “Students enjoy being able to come to the school in the summer and they like to work with teachers that they already know.”
Programs such as “Flying Into First Grade” or “Soaring Into Second Grade” are age-appropriate and based on where students are academically and socially. Other classes are just plain fun. There is a jewelry making class and a class that allows students to create and play their own board games.
“Teachers can offer to run programs about things that interest them, like gardening, sports, jewelry making or STEAM [science, technology, engineering, the arts and math],” Faiella said. “We love spending time with our students over the summer.”
The program runs for four weeks and in different sessions, but parents can can sign students up for specific weeks or participate in the entire program.
Registration is open until May 1 and additional information is available on the SSES website, including an academy brochure with detailed class descriptions.
