A report on St. Clair Catholic’s Summer Learning Program was presented to the Board of Trustees at the October 26, 2021, Regular Board Meeting.
“This virtual program was a tremendous success,” says Laura Callaghan, Superintendent of Education. “Through the three-week program, 223 elementary students stayed connected to learning and participated in fun wellness activities.”
Learning was targeted to meet specific student needs, and included three hours of daily face-to-face learning, using Google Meet. Students were also able to engage on their own with minimal support. Social-emotional learning was an important aspect of the camp, with activities that helped students connect to their emotions and feelings of well-being.
Virtual field trips and engaging learning activities were designed to support student development in literacy and math.
Parents/guardians could register their children for a variety of age groups and curriculum areas: Kindercamp; English Language Learners; English Programming – Math and Literacy – Grade 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6; French Immersion – Grades 1-4; and Math and Pathways – Grade 7/8.
Packages of materials for the summer camp were delivered directly to home schools and front porches of participating students across the district.
In the secondary panel, 80 students registered for 123 Board-directed e-learning courses; and another 121 students registered for 133 courses in the Catholic Consortium. In total, 238 summer credits were earned.
In addition to the Summer Learning Program, 280 in-coming Grade 9 students and 40 staff at St. Clair Catholic’s two secondary schools participated in the Head Start program during the last week of August.
“This tremendous program gives our newest secondary students a warm welcome to their new school communities and a chance to familiarize themselves with new routines before school begins,” says Chris Kehoe, Superintendent of Education. “Great work to our amazing secondary staff who arrange this awesome three-day event!”
“I want to thank our staff from across the system, who helped to make this Summer Learning Program a success,” says Scott Johnson, Director of Education. “It takes incredible organization, with collaboration from departments across the system in both the elementary and secondary panels to mount such a wide-ranging and effective learning experience. Well done everyone!”