Kingston City School District Superintendent Paul Padalino described a summer school program that has proven both popular and successful with students, as he gave an update on the subject at from a school board meeting earlier this month.
The K-3 Summer School, under the direction of Principal Emily Clausi, operated from July 11 to July 29 at Chambers Elementary School with an enrollment of approximately 230 students.
“We had many partners at each of our summer schools, but here we had mentors from Hudson Valley Reptiles and KHS (Kingston High School),” Padalino told school board members during a meeting on Tuesday. August 3. “It was fully staffed with social workers, school psychologists, ENL (English as a new language) teachers and bilingual family workers. And curriculum was our main areas…but we also had art, music PE (physical education) and social-emotional learning.
Padalino added that the program used US bailout funding to extend the school day, “to make sure we’re meeting those goals by closing the learning loss gap, as well as providing those supports.” socio-emotional to our students”.
The summer school program for students with disabilities at Ernest C. Myer Elementary School began Wednesday, July 6 and will continue through Wednesday, August 17. With 140 students enrolled, Padalino said, there are 12 teachers in the program, along with 22 teaching assistants, five therapists and principal Lynda Corey.
Padalino said that due to Myer being one of the “hottest” schools in the district, there were portable air conditioning units in every classroom with students when the temperature rose.
“We want to make sure everything is in place so our students can continue to get what they need and what their IEP (Individualized Education Program) requires of them,” Padalino said.
The Grades 5-8 program served approximately 175 students at Mr. Clifford Miller Middle School from July 11-29 under the direction of Principal Cameron Smith. Partners included Cornell Cooperative Extension, Peaceful Guardians, Wild Earth and Family of Woodstock. Padalino said the program is fully staffed with social workers, school psychologists, ENL teachers and bilingual family workers.
Summer 9 academy for 9th graders had its highest ever attendance at 70, also from July 11 to July 29. The program focused on math and ELA (English-Language-Arts), with community partners such as Family of Woodstock, Go Beyond Greatness, Wild Earth, Kingston Police Department and Youth Ensemble Theatre.
“Our agriculture club in high school also worked with our students,” Padalino said.
The summer school program for students in grades 10-12 runs from Tuesday July 19 to Monday August 15, with Regents exams held on August 16 and 17. Padalino said he believes there will be at least seven and as many as 11 students in the high school program collecting their diplomas at the summer graduation ceremony scheduled for Monday, August 29.