Seattle Public Schools: Summer Of Learning 2021

Press release from Seattle Public Schools:

06/17/2021

Summer of Learning 2021 Joy, Engagement, and Wellness

Our summer programs will promote engagement, joy, and wellness in preparation for a full return to school in the fall. All in-person opportunities will follow current COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Preschool

At-Home Family Directed Learning

• Preschool students will have access to at home summer learning activities providing opportunities focused on social emotional learning, English language arts, and math concepts.
• A family-directed option with access to a calendar of developmental learning activities that prepare students for a successful start to next year.
• Summer At-Home Learning Kits including materials to support learning activities over the summer for preschool and kindergarten transition.

In-person Learning with Educators

• Students will be assigned a preschool teacher and instructional assistant who will provide instruction between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Summer At-Home Learning Kits including materials to support learning activities over the summer for preschool and kindergarten transition.
• Limited space available for live remote or in-person instruction.

Elementary School

On-demand learning

All students will have access to an on-demand Summer of Learning lessons in English language arts, math, and social emotional learning. A Summer of Learning lessons calendar will be updated weekly with new lessons and activities.

• A focus on social emotional wellness, mathematical concepts, and language arts fluency.
• Access to videos and supplemental materials students can use to reinforce what was presented in the video lessons.
• This is a self-paced option where students will have access to a teacher and be provided instruction as a review of the current grade students are finishing. The focus on mastery of the material will set students up for a positive start to the school year.

An Advanced Learning summer project packet will be available for all students on the Advanced Learning website. Physical copies will also be available at the 26 summer meal sites. This packet will consist of a collection of STEM projects that will offer all middle school students a variety of STEM activities that can be done from home.

Summer Staircase

Students who have been identified by their schools as needing extra support will be invited to join a targeted summer learning program, Summer Staircase. Due to staffing availability and social distancing in school buildings, these targeted options will have a limited number of seats available.

• School staff will refer students to attend in-person or remote learning options this summer.
• Summer Staircase is designed as an inclusive learning opportunity for all students, including students served in Special Education.

In-person instruction will follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Bridge Course: incoming 6th grade students

The 5th to 6th grade Bridge Program is designed to support students' transition from elementary to middle school and will be offered remotely through Schoology.

Activities will include social emotional learning (SEL) lessons aligned with weekly themes. Lessons will support unique experiences of middle school-aged students, so students feel ready for the transition to sixth grade. Additionally, educators and staff will provide weekly live events to address content and themes to engage students in important social interaction and help students build connections. Students will be able to register for this program starting in June on the Summer Learning webpage.

Middle School

On-demand learning

All students will have access to an on-demand Summer of Learning lessons in English language arts, math, and social emotional learning. A Summer of Learning lessons calendar will be updated weekly with new lessons and activities.

• A focus on social emotional wellness, mathematical concepts, and language arts fluency.
• Access to videos and supplemental materials students can use to reinforce what was presented in the video lessons.
• This is a self-paced option where students will have access to a teacher and be provided instruction as a review of the current grade students are finishing. The focus on mastery of the material will set students up for a positive start to the school year.

An Advanced Learning summer project packet will be available for all students from the Advanced Learning webpage. Physical copies will also be available at the 26 summer meal sites. This packet will consist of a collection of STEM projects that will offer all middle school students a variety of STEM activities that can be done from home. This collection of STEM projects is intended for all middle school students.

High School

Credit Recovery

Students will have the opportunity to recover up to 1.0 credits (two .5 credits) this summer from the courses found on the registration form.

• The Credit Recovery program runs from July 6-July 30 for all students in grades 9-12.
• Students can finish courses before the July 30 end date by completing the modules and showing mastery in the module tests.
• Students will be assigned an SPS teacher who will provide live instruction and 1:1 conferring sessions over the course of the summer and students will meet with a school counselor to ensure proper course placement and to review their High School and Beyond plan.
• Student grades will be uploaded to their historical grades before the start of the 2021-22 school year.
• Students will receive information from their school counselor.

First time CTE Credit Coursework

First-time credit earning opportunities are available in Career and Technical Education (CTE) through the SPS Skills Center. Limited number and range of remote learning and in-person classes in which students can earn a .5 HS CTE credit will be available.

• Space will be prioritized for 11th and 12th grade students who need these credits to stay on track to graduate.
• Students will build skills and raise awareness about careers while earning credit toward graduation requirements.
• Students in remote learning will be expected to participate in 2 hours of synchronous Teams meetings per day in addition to about 2 hours of independent (asynchronous) work to complete each day.
• In-person/hybrid learning classes will meet between 3 and 5 days per week, depending on space in classrooms, etc.
• Some classes may count towards CTE graduation pathways
• There may also be opportunities for students to engage in summer internships.
• Classes will run from July 6 to July 30, Monday through Friday (except the first week, which starts on Tuesday), 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Registration information: (Open until June 20) Skills Center application page.

World Language Option 1 - Spanish

The International Education department will have a limited number and range of remote learning classes in which students can earn a .5 high school world language credit (1A or 1B) in Spanish 1.

• Students will be referred by their teachers/counselors and space will be prioritized first to students furthest from educational justice and students in need of 1A or 1B language credit to stay on track to graduate.
• Students will develop introductory languages skills such as conversational skills, intercultural communication, and presentational skills.
• Students will be expected to participate in 90 minutes of live, synchronous meetings on Teams per day in addition to 1-2 hours of independent work per day.
• Classes will run from July 6 to July 30, Monday through Friday (except the first week, which starts on Tuesday).

For Information and to Register: (opens June 3) International Education webpage.

World Language Option 2 – Chinese, Arabic, Korean

The International Education department will partner with OneWorldNow! to offer a limited number of seats in the Summer World Language Program which students can earn a .5 high school world language credit or up to 1 high school world language credit.

• Students will be referred by their teachers/counselors and space will be prioritized first
  to students furthest from educational justice and students in need of 1A or 1B language credit to stay on track to graduate.
• OneWorldNow! Will offer courses in Chinese, Arabic, and Korean.
• Students will develop introductory languages skills in conversational skills, intercultural communication, and presentational skills.
• Students will be expected to participate in 2 hours of live, synchronous meetings on Zoom per day in addition to 1 hour of independent work per day.
• There will also be one hour a week of cultural activities and leadership activities online.

For Information and to Register: (currently open)
One World Now website.

Community Partner Programming

Some SPS elementary, middle, and high schools will offer their own summer programs in partnership with community organizations. School staff will reach out directly with current and incoming students for site-based programming opportunities. Transportation will not be provided for site-based programming. You can read more about some of the summer programing offered by SPS partners.

This press release was produced by Seattle Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.