Just under one-fifth of Morgan Hill Unified School District
students are spending a part of their summer vacation back in the
classroom.
Morgan Hill – Just under one-fifth of Morgan Hill Unified School District students are spending a part of their summer vacation back in the classroom.
Summer school started June 22, less than a week after the end of the regular school year June 16. The students are trying to improve their grades or pass subjects they struggled with during the regular school year.
Approximately 1,000 7-12 grade students are taking classes at Sobrato High School this summer, while approximately 575 K-6 grade students are at Nordstrom Elementary School.
The district’s summer school is remedial, not for students looking to get ahead. The program targets those who need additional assistance in literacy and mathematics, or who are behind in graduation credits or need to pass the California High School Exit Exam. Migrant education and special education programs are also a part of the summer program.
“Summer school participants were selected and recommended by their teachers,” said Bob Davis, the district’s student services coordinator. “Both of our summer school principals and their staffs have worked very hard to place and serve students for maximum success.”
Live Oak High School Assistant Principal Lloyd Webb is leading the middle school and high school students as summer school principal, while Jean Southland is principal at the elementary school level.
Elementary students will be in school for 20 days, until July 21; while seventh and eighth grade students will go for an extra week, 25 days; and high school students will be in summer school for 30 days, ending Aug. 4.
At the middle school and high school level, a variety of subjects are being offered, most of them college preparatory courses. Students had the opportunity to take math, including pre-algebra, algebra and geometry, several history and English classes, biology, civics and economics.
Students are also taking special education classes at all levels; both special day classes and autism classes are a part of this year’s summer school curriculum.
“Things seem to have gone well on both campuses,” Superintendent Alan Nishino said, as the short school term draws to a close. “I visited Nordstrom, saw the work they were doing there. Those are good kids. And I visited the high school, and Mr. Webb told me things seem to be going well. A lot of middle school kids there, a lot of them taking algebra. Algebra is the (subject) with the highest number of students.”
The subject is one of three district officials have identified as “gatekeeper” classes, meaning classes considered vital to academic success. Nishino emphasized the district’s goal is to have all eighth grade students take algebra.
“I’m really hoping that kids take that seriously,” he said.
