Summer school being held again

Students who may need a little extra help in math and English could be seeing more of the classroom for 12 days in July as the Rainy River District School Board once again offers summer school across the district.
But there are some changes this year, including recommending some grade seven students attend in addition to those in grade eight. And the time frame has been shortened by having students attend five hours a day instead of half-days like last year.
“Last year, we spread it out over four weeks. But we found it difficult to retain some students–they would be enthusiastic at first but then dropped out before the end,” said Betty Ann LaRocque, the board’s assistant superintendent.
“So then we were thinking if we make it a 12-day stretch, we could keep the students’ attention,” she added.
But one local mother, who is “95 percent sure” her daughter will attend summer school, isn’t so sure.
“Being that it’s in the middle of the summer, I hope it’s worth the 12 days. I’m a little skeptical of how much information they can put into those 12 days,” she said.
“But I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, given that I’m new to this, too,” she added.
LaRocque stressed the five-hour days, which run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a one-hour lunch break, would be no more intense for students than a “normal school day.”
The program is being continued–despite a few drop-outs last July–due to positive feedback from several parties.
“I had done some interviewing of the teachers, students, and parents,” said LaRocque. “Teachers noted the impact in the classroom, and parents and students were pleased with the improvements in those areas.
“We know it was very positive and that’s why we decided to do it again,” she added.
Parents who have not yet been contacted by their child’s school principal or teacher, but would like to enroll their child in summer school, should contact their child’s school immediately as the registration deadline is this Friday.
Enrolment will determine how many–and where–summer school sites will be held. Likely ones include Robert Moore in Fort Frances, Donald Young School in Emo, Riverview in Rainy River, and Atikokan High School.