The Thames Valley District school board is ramping up its summer school offerings to give students a chance to bump up their marks virtually or in-person after two years of pandemic disruptions.
“We know many families have experienced challenges throughout the pandemic and we want to provide as much support as possible,” said Riley Culhane, the board’s associate director of learning support services. “We have enhanced and expanded all of these opportunities. . . to support our students and our families.”
Culhane said that includes credit recovery opportunities in all high schools, so students can salvage their grade in a course they’ve failed.
The board is “committed to providing additional supports and resources that we can throughout the summer,” he said. “Besides providing opportunity for new learning, we want to reduce or prevent any learning loss throughout the summer.”
The board also is expanding its Reach Ahead programs, allowing Grade 8 students to seek extra high school credits before they start Grade 9.
And the EduTravel program returns from pandemic hiatus, so students can receive a credit by visiting destinations such as Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, Culhane said.
Also new this year is a summer camp at Huron University College, offering students a taste of higher learning.
“It’s a great opportunity for students who come from minorityized, Indigenous, low-income or newcomer families throughout the district to have that access and exposure to university and campus life,” Culhane said.
High School Here I Come is an orientation program for students heading to Grade 9, he said, with a math and literacy component that lets students earn a credit before they start high school.
Indigenous summer programming is being offered in partnership with Oneida Nation of the Thames for students from kindergarten to Grade 12 with a focus on literacy, numeracy and cultural components.
Thames Valley speech language pathologists are offering a camp focusing on student’s articulation skills, as well as early literacy skills, Culhane said.
“We have a social skills program. . . being offered specifically for students diagnosed with an autism exceptionality,” he said, and an assisted technology camp for those who require technology to access the curriculum.
In August, the board will team with the London District Catholic school board and 15 community providers on a wide variety of workshops “to support families, parents and caregivers,” Culhane said