With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and an emphasis on college and career readiness, South San Francisco Unified School District’s (SSFUSD) month-long summer school/camp typically generates long waiting lists as parents of school-aged students in public and private schools apply for admission on a first come, first serve basis.
This past summer, the district worked with artists from around the country to integrate the visual and performing arts (e.g., mural painting, hip hop, capoeira, Filipino dance, ballet folklórico, etc.) with the district’s traditional summer STEM activities.
“The district is really committed to summer enrichment, especially for students with high needs, but also creating fun activities for students who don’t necessarily have academic needs,” said Marybeth McLaughlin, who oversaw the summer program for grades 3-8 at Sunshine Gardens Elementary School.
The SSFUSD summer school/camp targets new immigrants, children of migrant workers, English language learners, and special education students who are reading at, above, or below grade level.
For special education students, the SSFUSD summer school/camp is designed to maintain study skills and learning behaviors acquired over the course of the regular school year.
At the high school level, students who are just shy of graduating can make up classes to get their diploma in the summer, while aspiring scholars can get a head start on the next year.
SSFUSD has been offering quality summer school and summer enrichment programs at no charge to the community since 2015.
Funding for the district’s K-2 summer program is made possible by the Big Lift, a program of the San Mateo County Office of Education.
“Programs like these are a community affair,” said Lottie Kuwada, program manager for SSFUSD’s summer program at Los Cerritos Elementary School. “We supply the teachers and the facilities. Our partners like the San Mateo County Library System and the Bay Area Discovery Museum supply enrichment activities and the curriculum.”
The summer program for students in grades 3-8 was financed through a Student Support & Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant finance, and free child care was provided by the South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department.
“This is a great service to the community,” said SSFUSD School Board Member Eddie Flores. “I’m hoping next year we can find a way to shorten the waiting list, so that more people can take advantage of these programs.”