Glendale-River Hills plans for another Summer Academy

Glendale - Citing a high participation rate and comprehensive curriculum, the Glendale-River Hills School Board unanimously voted last week to bring the district's Summer Academy program back in 2012.

Haydee Smith, coordinator of the Summer Academy program, said 475 residents within the district participated in the program in 2011, representing about 60 percent of the students attending Parkway Elementary and Glen Hills Middle schools during the regular school year. Overall attendance was down slightly with a total 536 students - resident and nonresident - participating in the program. In 2010, 571 students participated.

Glendale-River Hills offered 44 classes during the five-week program this year. They ranged from academic - including reading, math, Spanish, science and sign language - to more enrichment-type classes in the areas of art, music and physical education. Regardless of the type of class, Smith said each one carried specific standards and benchmarks.

Another component within Summer Academy is classes designed to help students prepare for kindergarten and transition into first grade.

"It's an incredible part of the program," School Board member Jean Pereles-Strouse said. "It definitely gives the kids a higher comfort level and helps them transition between grade levels."

Two hundred students - the maximum amount permitted - participated in the district's optional Fabulous Fridays field trip program this summer.

In 2012, Summer Academy will take place from June 25 to July 26. Resident students will be assessed a $50 participation fee, while nonresidents will be charged $250. The optional Fabulous Fridays program will be an additional $50 for all students.

In the months ahead, district officials will begin planning courses and staffing. A full schedule of all anticipated offerings will likely be published in April.

Smith, principal of Glen Hills, will again serve as coordinator of Summer Academy next year. In a separate motion, the board voted to pay her a $10,000 stipend on top of her regular 2012-13 employment contract.