Cape using sports for summer school classes

While still offering course credit repair for the upper grades, Cape Girardeau's summer school this year will incorporate sports across the curriculum, as well as art and computer coding in the middle school and lower grades.

In 2013, about 570 students attended summer school, but in an effort to attract more, assistant superintendent for academic services Sherry Copeland said summer school will be offered at the traditional time, starting May 28, and won't feature a "jump start" school just before regular school resumes.

She said she doesn't know how many students she expects this year, but hopes attendance will exceed last year.

"There are some really exciting courses that we are going to offer at our buildings," Copeland said, especially at Central Middle School and Central Junior High. Examples are an art fusion class, a coding class dealing with basic computer programming concepts, a complete wellness course to get children moving, talking about mental and social health and healthy eating and even a "school of rock" class.

Sports will be incorporated across the curriculum at Central Middle School. This will include math in sports, science and social studies. For example, students will learn how to figure out batting averages, talk about the speed of hitting a baseball, or from a social studies perspective, talk about how Babe Ruth would have compared to today's baseball players.

"I think that will be a really neat class," Copeland said.

Dates for elementary and middle summer school are May 28 through June 10. Summer school at Central Junior High and the Alternative Education Center will run from May 27 through June 13; and Central High School's classes will be May 28 through June 24.

Upper-level classes will generally be for credit recovery, but there are some enrichment courses in languages, personal finance or students can pick up a physical education credit, Copeland said.

Jackson

All things Disney will be the theme for Jackson's elementary summer school, set for June 4-25 this year.

Director Mandee Stricker said students entering first through entering fifth grade will be treated to Disney trivia questions and food -- think Simba sausage. Anyone from any state, county or city can attend summer school free, but youngsters either have to bring lunch or lunch money, Stricker said.

Hours will be 8 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Along with the Disney aspect, there will be enrichment classes in keyboarding, Spanish, PE and library. Participants will take one of those classes every four days, Stricker said.

"The purpose of summer school is to be an extension of the school," she said. "It's not remedial or anything like that. People think their children have to be recommended by teachers, but don't. We'll be doing math, social studies and science," using the Disney theme to make it fun.

Those who sign up by May 9 will get free T-shirts that say "If you dream it, you can do it. Jackson R-2 Summer School," Stricker said.

A Disney dress-up day where students may dress up in Disney costumes and wear them all day will be offered. Plus, students will be greeted by Disney characters at the door and their parents may take their photos.

Stricker said she will play a different Disney song each day as students make their way to class. And when the children are settled, she'll play a short clip from a Disney movie and students will have to guess which one it is. Students and teachers also will get a chance to answer Disney trivia questions that Stricker will give the answers to at the end of the day.

Students also will vote for their favorite Disney movie. Kids will then attend a showing of the film and have popcorn and juice boxes.

The summer school program for students entering kindergarten in the fall will be offered Monday through Friday June 9-20. Kindergartners will be assigned a morning or afternoon session after enrollment. At this time, the district's website said, all elementary classes are scheduled to be held at South Elementary.

Students in the kindergarten classes also will learn about nutrition.

On a separate item, Stricker said the Kids' Club program also will be available after summer school from 3:10 to 5:45 p.m., so that parents may have child care for a fee.

R.O. Hawkins Junior High assistant principal Mike Ford said he expects close to 200 students for summer school, which is June 4 through 25 this year. Eighth-graders may take keyboarding and incoming ninth-graders can take health.

The middle school and high school could not be reached Tuesday afternoon.

Scott City

Summer school in Scott City will run June 2 through 26, with students attending from 7:40 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau

614 E. Adams St., Jackson