Coordinator of Educational Options Reid Volk and Director of Secondary Education Paul Rutihauser toured multiple campuses during the first week of Ceres Unified School District’s Super Summer Academy.
“We visited five sites today (Friday) to make sure everything is running smoothly, teachers have what they need and students are excited to be there,” Volk said.
A total of 4,360 students entering grades TK-12th signed up for the June 10-July 3 Super Summer Academy, including 2,000 elementary, 1,600 high school and 760 junior high.
“Percentage wise, we’re about exactly where we were last year in terms of overall student enrollment,” said Volk. “It’s exciting so many of our students want to join our Super Summer Academy. We pack a lot into those 17 days. It’s not one or two subjects. It’s a full package.”
Elementary classes are held weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. while junior high and high school classes are held weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“The kids have so much fun and are learning. Staff is excited and energized to be there.”
All students who participate in the Super Summer Academy receive math, language arts and enrichment activities.
Devices are utilized daily and students are required to bring their CUSD Chromebooks to their respective classrooms.
“We try to provide a comprehensive experience for our students. With summer school, we want there to be a fun enrichment component. We want to make it an experience kids don’t dread going to.”
At the elementary level, teachers create 40-minute enrichment activities at the end of the summer school day two days a week. Examples include Discover Reading, Multicultural Art, Multimedia Magic with Google Apps, Science Extravaganza and LEGO Education Story Starter.
LEGO Education Story Starter is a hands-on, minds-on literacy solution designed to create confident writers and readers. Story Starter is designed to engage and teach students within Language Arts and also focuses on developing 21st Century skills.
“Some of the ideas are insanely creative. It’s so cool.”
“If the kids are thrilled with the lessons, everybody wins,” he added.”
At the high school level, current students focus on credit recovery, elective opportunities and P.E. classes.
The following classes are offered for students entering grades 9-12: English 9, 10 and 11, World History and U.S. History, Physics of the Universe, Biology the Living Earth, Chemistry in the Earth Systems, Integrated Math I, Integrated Math II, Accelerated Math Bridge II and AP Pre-Calculus Bridge, Foreign Language (courses offered vary by site), P.E./Weight Training, Elective Classes (courses offered vary by site) and 9th Grade Transitions (English, Math and STEM).
Ceres Unified hired 314 certificated staff members for its Super Summer Academy.
“Seventy percent of those are our own teachers,” noted Volk.
