Classes resumed at schools across the Rainy River District last week but there was a lot of learning taking place during the summer.
The Rainy River District School Board hosted several programs.
Superintendent of Education Brad Oster says one was tailored to help first-time students get adjusted to school.
“This programming targeted kindergarten and junior and senior kindergarten students, helping them develop those crucial readiness skills prior to coming to school this year,” says Oster.
The program was offered at seven elementary schools and attracted almost 90 students.
A summer learning program attracted 15 students in grades 1-3 at Robert Moore and Mine Centre Schools.
Oster says this focused on reading, writing, and math, with hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and experiential activities tailored to individual learning needs.
A transition-to-school program provided support to 68 students, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder and others needing a gradual reentry to school.
Activities included school tours, classroom introductions, and relationship building sessions.
“These programs have been crucial in preparing our students for the new school year, fostering a smooth transition back to school,” says Oster.
For the board’s more senior students, a summer co-op program was held, with students participating in a variety of job opportunities.
Twenty-nine students earned 44 credits as a result.
“Typically, it’s senior students who either need it for graduation, they might be at risk behind some credits, or they’re in a specialist high skills major program and, because of the nature of their pathway, aren’t able to capture the co-op in their regular program,” says Beth Fairfield, Superintendent of Education.
The board also ran a credit recovery program that helped students who were unsuccessful in achieving a course credit during the normal school year.
Twenty-nine students participated and achieved a combined 36 1/2 credits.
“That’s a real success and something to celebrate because that’s ensuring that our students are staying on track,” says Fairfield.
“We know that magic 16 by 16, which means by the end of grade ten, they’ve achieved 16 credits, is a key figure that they’ll stay on track for graduation.”
Another 45 high school students participated in online courses offered through the Ontario e-Learning Consortium.
Forty-four were successful in earning either a full or half credit.
