March 3, 2008
Dear Elementary School Parents,
We are very pleased to share that we are expanding our popular elementary summer school program—better known as the Summer Learning Institute.
In addition to serving the needs of incoming 3rd graders we are adding options for students at both ends of the elementary school experience: those graduating from kindergarten to first grade but not yet reading at a C text level and not yet demonstrating proficiency in early numeracy, and those graduating to middle school who are not yet proficient on critical 5th grade math targets.
The Summer Learning Institute (SLI) for first graders transitioning from kindergarten will be 3 weeks long, from July 7 to July 25. Because we want this learning experience to be both developmentally appropriate and academically successful, the classroom instruction will be an integration of explicit literacy and math strategies, enriched with kinesthetic movement through music. The summer school teachers are some of the best, most effective teachers in our district. There will be one teacher for every 10 first grade students. Parents will be invited to join the class on Friday of each week for ongoing parent involvement activities in addition to the parent orientation and evening open house.
We will continue to offer a robust 4-week SLI experience in a 1:15 teacher/student ratio setting from July 7- August 1st for third grade students who are transitioning from second grade but have not yet mastered essential end-of-year outcomes in reading and mathematics.
Both of these Summer Learning Institute programs will be located at Allen School along with Green Camp, a summer program sponsored by our Recreation and Education Department. Families may sign up for early drop off childcare each morning before summer school begins and may enroll in the afternoon Green Camp hosted by Ann Arbor teacher, Dave Szczygiel. Morning and noon-time transportation will continue to be provided for all summer school students. Students who choose to enroll in the afternoon camp may bring a sack lunch. Lunch supervision will be provided.
The fifth grade mathematics Summer Learning Institute will occur for 2 weeks, June 16 to June 27, and be housed at Scarlett Middle School. With the new high school graduation requirements in mathematics, it is critical that students enter middle school with secure skills. The objective of these daily 3½ -hour sessions is to strengthen the enabling skills that prepare students for success in algebra. Students will be involved in a variety of activities that will keep them actively engaged in learning and promote mastery of essential skills.
Your student’s principal and/or classroom teacher will notify you later this spring if your child is eligible to attend the Summer Learning Institute. We urge you to take advantage of this highly successful summer experience. It is very important that all our children begin the next school year confidently and comfortably ready to succeed. Your child’s academic success is very important to us.
Do not hesitate to ask your student’s teacher about this exceptional opportunity. More information regarding summer school events, Green Camp and day care will be forthcoming.
Respectfully,
Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley
