Students and staff say summer programs boosted learning, participation for about 450 students

Staff and student presenters reviewed the district’s summer programs on Sept. 16, describing academic and enrichment activities that served roughly 450 students across eight programs.

Becky Boulay, the K–3 adjustment counselor, said staff focused on social‑emotional supports and close check‑ins for tier‑three students; she described daily check‑in/check‑out routines and said the program helped students transition back into full‑time in‑person schooling. "We spent every day figuring out how to disguise lessons so the kids would not know that they're actually learning," Boulay said.

Jeff Curran, who oversaw multiple summer programs, outlined a mix of credit‑recovery (EdgeSeer), project‑based learning, and math‑academy options used to target skill gaps identified from STAR and MCAS data. Curran highlighted hands‑on projects — bottle rockets, remote‑control car experiments, a Barbie bungee jump and a mural project — and said teachers reported strong growth; he cited about 25 percent growth in one middle‑school cohort from pretest to posttest.

Students who attended described teamwork and hands‑on learning. One presenter said teamwork was a key takeaway; another student, Brooklyn Walsh, described music as a favorite activity and noted the program purchased 28 ukuleles so each student could practice.

Staff said the programs generated positive feedback and that administrators plan to continue many of the project‑based elements next summer. Presenters encouraged sharing videos and materials from the programs with grantors and other districts to showcase the work.

What happens next: administration will evaluate outcomes, continue to develop program pathways (credit recovery, PBL, acceleration) and consider surveying students and parents in mid‑year to measure impact.