Although summer officially began with the Summer Solstice on Friday, ask any local school children and they’ll tell you summer began nearly a month ago, when regular classes were dismissed.
However, while many are enjoying a three month break classes, that doesn’t mean the halls have been empty.
Students in need of a little extra help catching up on or making up classes are attending summer school at Sulphur Springs Independent School District. Others are attending sessions designed to better help them pass various sections of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness tests so they can be promoted to the next grade so they can start classes with their peers in August. That’s in addition to the various sports activities and band practice held throughout the summer.
Several SSISD students and staff members are also involved in summer sports camps and STEAM camp. Others are attending the weekly YMCA program or Kids’ Camp All children through 18 years are welcome to two free meals a day Monday-Thursday at free summer meal program hosted at breakfast and lunch time at Sulphur Springs Elementary.
School staff the first week in June had the opportunity to be involved in the Summer Learning Conference hosted at Sulphur Springs Middle School. Administrators also are busy working together to develop campus and district budgets and plan for the 2019-2020 school year. Maintenance staff also often use the time to deep clean, make repairs and spruce things up on campuses during the summer months, when fewer kids are on campuses.
SSISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams and Kristin Monk recently noted at least 13 different activities students and staff have are involved in this summer. They include:
- Sulphur Springs Work Camp, Monday, June 3-Thursday, June 6, utilized SSHS and SSMS big gyms, SSISD Auditorium.
- Summer Learning Conference, Tuesday, June 4-Wednesday, June 5 at SSMS.
- #summerschool2.0 for SSISD students entering kindergarten through fifth grade, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.June 4-July 25, at SSES. With a focus on improving reading skills, students will work with skilled classroom teachers on reading, math and science. Additionally, students participate in PE and library time. Students enrolled in Dual Language Two-way program are participating for the first time as are elementary students requiring Extended School Year (ESY) services.
- YMCA, students aged 5-12 years, Monday-Friday, June 3-Aug. 2, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m, at SSES except the last week of July which will be at Bush Primary. Camp Bright Star – Summer Partnership with YMCA Metropolitan Dallas.
- STAAR Blitz, 5th grade students and staff, Monday, June 10-Wednesday, June 26, 8-11:45 a.m., SSES. Student Success Initiative (SSI) – Students are required to meet STAAR math and reading passing standards to be promoted to middle school. Parents of students not meeting passing standards are required to attend a placement conference.
- STAAR Blitz, 8th grade, Monday, June 10-Wednesday, June 26,
8-11:45 a.m., SSMS Media Center. SSI – Students are required to meet STAAR math & reading passing standards to be promoted to high school. Parents of students not meeting passing standards are required to attend a placement conference.
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Monday-Thursday, June 4-July 25, breakfast served 7:45-8:30 a.m., lunch 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in SSES Cafeteria. Established to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Any child between the ages of 1 and 18 may eat breakfast and/or lunch in our program.
- Kids’ Camp – Fun, Food, Fitness! sponsored by the Community Health/Wellness Alliance of Hopkins County (Hopkins County Extension agency personnel) for students who have completed grades 1-4, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays June 10-June 28, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in SSES Activity Gym. Kids’ Camp focuses on nutrition and hands-on food preparation, physical activity, safety and gardening.
- STEAM Camp, for students entering grades 4- 8, Tuesday-Thursday, June 18-20, at SSMS. Campers participated in a challenging STEAM mission this summer utilizing robotics, circuits, coding and more. It is the desire of SSISD to encourage students to explore their interests in math, science, engineering, and programming in an engaging manner.
- Open Gym, big gyms at SSHS/SSMS for volleyball and basketball open practices/activities.
- End of Course review and testing for students needing to take/re-take an EOC test, Monday-Thursday, June 10-26, at SSHS. A graduation requirement, students are required to meet passing standards on five designated EOC exams to be considered as a candidate for high school graduation.
- Credit Recovery, End of Course Review and End Of Course Testing for students enrolled in REACH and SEARCH programs at Austin Academic Center (AAC) or assigned to Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement, Monday -Wednesday, June 10-26, at AAC. A graduation requirement, students are required to meet passing standards on five designated EOC exams to be considered as a candidate for high school graduation.
- Gym floor refurbishment, July 19-23, in the big gyms at SSHS and SSMS for annual maintenance. (SSES gym floor refurbishment is scheduled during Christmas break.)
