Keeping the Momentum: Why Summer Learning Matters

On this episode of Stronger Together: The MPS Podcast, we explore how Summer Learning helps scholars maintain momentum, stay on track, and even get ahead. Dr. Shaniece Williams talks about shifting perceptions, supporting families, and why Summer Learning is an investment in student success.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Welcome to Stronger Together, the MPS Podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. Here, we bring you real stories, important conversations, and powerful insights from across Montgomery Public Schools. From the classroom to the community, we're exploring the people, partnerships, and possibilities shaping the future of our students. Because when it comes to education, we're not just building schools, we're building futures. And together, we are stronger. Welcome to Stronger Together, the MPS Podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. I'm your host, Monet Stevens, Marketing and Community Development Manager for Montgomery Public Schools. Now, this episode is going to be all about summer learning, and we're reframing the conversation. And to help guide us through it, I'm joined again by Dr. Shanice Williams, our Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, who will be answering most of the common questions that we have. Welcome back, Dr. Williams. Thank you so much for having me. So when many people hear about summer school, they often think that a student has fallen behind. Part of that is true, but the real truth is it's not about failure. It's about an opportunity for growth and enrichment. And it's about making sure that every student is on track, they're supported, and they're ready to walk into the next school year with more confidence. So, Dr. Williams, we're going to start here. Can you help us shift the mindset for families and what summer learning should really mean for our students?

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Yes, thank you again for having me. Summer learning, as you said, should be viewed as an opportunity for growth and not remediation. It ensures that students continue building the skills and strengthening their foundation throughout the summer. So there is very little learning loss. So we encourage that our families bring their students so that that way we can continue the literacy and math and STEM. And summer learning is, yes, it's about academics, but we also want the children to have fun in doing that. So that's why we have the STEM, we have arts, music, fine arts, so that they can enjoy coming to summer learning. And it's not just what aka summer school. We want it to be a summer learning camp. We want it to have enrichment activities for our growth scholars, building those foundational skills. So we wanted to make it as fun as possible, especially for our elementary children.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

And that's the fun part. If you're going to be out for the summer and be in school for the summer, you got to have a little bit of fun. Absolutely. So can you share how summer learning helps students stay on track or even get ahead before the next school year begins?

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Yeah. So as I stated, summer learning is going to provide the targeted instruction and literacy and math and reinforce key skills and standards and offer the enrichment experience that accelerates the learning, helping students either close their gaps or advance their skills. And so we are going to have enrichment this summer for our children as well as support our growth scholars in closing those gaps.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Yes, absolutely. Now, what would you say to a parent who may be unsure about enrolling their child in summer learning?

SPEAKER_00 3:18

I think summer learning is one of the best investments you can give your child for success. It kind of gives them a jump start into the next school year as well. And like I said, just closing those gaps. We would love for all the children to come because, like I said, it helps the teachers, it helps the students to just build those relationships and close those learning gaps and just ensure, even more importantly, that they are paired prepared for the next grade level. And that's what's important. And just building the confidence in the child to start the next school year and to be able to thrive and not having to catch up.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Yeah, and it does help teachers who are going to be receiving those students the next year. They're not having to go back and reteach something that they should have learned the year before, but they didn't really retain it.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Absolutely. Absolutely. And also with our summer program, and I'll start with elementary first. Um, elementary summer school is going to be um 7:30 to 2 p.m. for grades K-5. So our rising, um, our pre-K students that are rising kindergarten, once they register um during our kindergarten kickoff week, they are welcome to come to our summer learning program. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and transportation is for grades K through eighth grade. Um, and it'll be Monday through Thursday for K-12, Monday through Thursday, and off on Fridays. And so we're just gonna have a great time with our summer learning. All of our elementary schools will be providing summer learning at their location with the exception of two schools. So if a child is zoned for Danley Elementary, they will be attending Bond Road Elementary. And if a child is zoned for Davis Elementary, they will be attending Nixon Elementary. Other than those two exceptions, all elementary schools will have a summer learning program Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 2 p.m. with breakfast and lunch being provided as well as transportation.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

And I know that's a great perk for parents. They don't have to worry about providing extra food or extra snacks, and they don't have to worry about their child eating up all the groceries. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 5:23

And for our secondary students, um, same time frame, June 1st through June 25th, Monday through Thursday, um, 6th through 12th grade, all middle and high schools, all middle and high schools will have their own location for summer school as well. There are no exceptions, so every middle and high school will have their own summer location, but their time is slightly different. It is 7:30 to 12:30 p.m.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Absolutely. And so when can parents go ahead and register? I know we've already gotten phone calls and they're eager to get their child registered for summer learning.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

So for K-12, registration will be May 1st through May 29th. It is best for parents to contact their child's zone school so they know the times that they can come in and register. And we also have a QR code that schools will send out and will be posted. Um, the link will be posted on our website for registration as well, and parents can register.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

Thanks for joining us for Stronger Together, the MPS podcast. Our schools, our communities, our future in conversation. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to share it with a friend, follow us on social media, and check out our website at mps.k12.al.us. Together, we can keep building brighter futures for every student at Montgomery Public Schools. Until next time, remember, we are stronger together.