Nearly 900 students participated in the five different programs Sunnyvale School District offers over the summer.
Extended School Year (ESY) is provided for each student who has exceptional needs and requires special education and related services in excess of the general academic year. About 91 students participated this year in whole group, small group and individual sessions with a highly targeted focus. Classrooms spent each week focusing on a different social-emotional skill including attention, self-management, bravery and gratitude.
Students who participated in the Stanford Summer Explorations not only had one experienced and dynamic teacher, but two to three Stanford student teachers from the Stanford Teacher Education Preparation program in their classrooms, which allowed for more individualized support.
At the elementary level hosted at Lakewood, 333 students strengthened skills around community building, informational writing, math problem solving and technology. Students engaged in strategies to deepen their academic vocabulary and practice applying new terms in their verbal interactions with their peers. In partnership with Stanford University, staff focused professional development on expanding our knowledge of inclusion models and were able to apply these methods with our Sunnyvale students.
SSD teacher, Theresa Ballin said her hopes for her students over the summer were for them to be brave leaders.
“It was a chance for students to try out leadership roles where they may have never had a chance,” Ballin said. “Students would recognize genius in their classmates. A few shy students found their voice and it made them proud as they reported in our classroom.”
About 331 middle school students worked on math, English-language arts, social studies, science and beginning Hindi, language program. Hindi was also added for the first time this summer. This summer middle school students also had the unique opportunity to meet the author of Secret Saturdays, Torrey Maldonado, who took the time to autograph personalized copies for each student! The district also partnered with Dr. Jo Boaler of Stanford implementing YouCubed math curriculum, which focuses on growth mindset, hands-on learning, and verbal conversation and collaboration.
Upwards of 57 families enjoyed getting their students ready for kindergarten through the Stretch to Kindergarten (STK) program, which serves families whose children had no or little preschool. This year STK partnered with YMCA to offer after school care at low cost for the parents. Additional services such as vision and dental screenings were also provided.
The YMCA’s Summer Learning Program served 47 students this summer. The six-week program focuses on reading and enrichment of first through third graders. Students spent mornings immersed in literacy-based instruction and then in the afternoon participated in a variety of enrichment activities including weekly educational field trips, lessons on health and nutrition, music, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) lessons, and at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity daily. Field trip included the Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Francisco Zoo, BMS bike rally, Seven Seas Park, Exploratorium and Oracle Park.
To learn more about our summer programs, please visit http://sesd.schoolwires.net/domain/387 or watch our video below!
