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Summer classes have kids begging for more
Students find school can be fun with small classes
Friday, July 3, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS
Principal Sue DelaCruz visits with students participating in a summer academy at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School on Wednesday.
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Take education courses, exercise, laughter and two free meals, throw them all together and voila — Charles County Public Schools' Summer Academy.
For the past nine years, the school system has offered students the opportunity to take summer courses, not to make up a failing grade but to get a head start on the upcoming year or brush up on concepts a student might not have grasped during the year.
The academy is described on the school system's Web site as an intensive, age-appropriate curriculum.
"It's nice to see them here, coming in at 7:30 … every morning," said Dana Sturdivant, a teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School.
Sturdivant said students involved in the academy at Stoddert all show enthusiasm each day and seem to want to learn.
Travis Smith, 12, said he came to Summer Academy at Stoddert to learn more math.
He said he is enjoying the shorter class period and activities.
The academy runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. School buses take the children to and from the classes.
The academy runs for three weeks each summer at 11 elementary schools, six middle schools and each high school. While the programs do not run at every school in the county, they are available for all students.
Many incoming sixth-, seventh- and eighth- grade students at Stoddert described the program as "awesome," even though many of them disliked the idea of going to school during summer break at the beginning of the academy.
"It's fun, and you can learn. It's not like school, because school is boring," said Rashard Crawford, 12.
Carmencita Bell, site coordinator for the Stoddert academy, said the big difference between the summer classes and the regular school year is that the classes are much smaller, giving teachers an opportunity to spend more hands-on time with each student.
Bell said teachers also understand that, while students are there to learn, it is still summertime and cause for bit of a more-relaxed feel.
"You learn more because you are doing it in a fun way," said Rickey Neale, 14. "When you do something in a fun way, it gets to you more."
Bell said over the years she has noticed big changes in students who have participated in the academy. Bell said throughout the next year, their confidence is increased and they have a new perspective on school.
"[Students] want to be here, they enjoy being with the teachers," she said.
"It can be boring sometimes, but I have a fun time here. At home, I probably wouldn't be doing anything," said Marlo Butler, 12.
Abdul-Malik Hinton, 10, got his first taste of middle school by taking the academy.
"This is an opportunity to learn and be ready for middle school," he said.
"I think every child [at Summer Academy] feels appreciated. They get to come here and learn and go that extra mile," Abdul-Malik said.
