Students in Julia Lopez's class do some hands-on learning during Summer School.
Principal Angelina Doran said that Newberg-Dundee Summer School provides more than academic and cultural enrichment.
“Summer School gives students access to resources they wouldn’t typically have,” Doran said. “They have opportunities to have experiences that are not typical to the regular school year.”
Summer School, funded by federal grants, is for preK-12 students. It is held at Edwards, and is aimed at students who are receiving additional support through federal programs and also serves students who may need extra support based on assessment data. All students (about 230 this year) improve their academic skills in core classes, enjoy cultural pursuits such as art and dance activities, and soak in the chance to meet new friends over the summer or see old ones again. There are also credit recovery classes for Grades 9-12.
Fourth-grader Juliana Springs-Rosario explained the program’s purpose perfectly.
“We all need a little help,” Juliana noted. “There’s maybe something you don’t get in math or reading. Summer School, it helps fill in the gaps.”
Many students return annually because this isn’t just a learning opportunity. It’s a community.
“I love our community and I love our kids, and I’ve had the opportunity to be a Summer School teacher, and I know the value that this program gives to families,” Doran said.
Held from July 8 to Aug. 1 at Edwards Elementary, Doran said Summer School has big news this year: two terrific classes and a performance opportunity:
- After a pandemic-era hiatus, Summer School once again is offering a potentially life-saving swimming class.
- Plus, students can learn baile folklórico, which is traditional Mexican folk dancing.
- For the first time, Summer School students will have a chance to shine (and demonstrate their baile folklórico skills) during the Talent Show on the Cultural Stage at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 26 at the Old-Fashioned Festival Talent Show in Renne Park, 699 S. School St.
“It instills pride in their heritage and, for some of them, they get to know a new culture,” said Summer School First-Grade Teacher Karen Díaz Carmona, who runs Ballet Folklórico De Nuestros Ancestros (Ballet Folklórico DNA).
The Team
Summer School
How does Summer School work and who are some of the people who make it happen? Summer School has a strategic aspect, guiding young people beginning in preschool and rolling up to senior year. Topics include literacy and math grades preK-8 and any credits they may need for Grades 9-12.
Students come to a class with varying skill levels, so they are divided into groups after teachers assess their knowledge and understanding. Teachers then focus on expanding and refining students’ skills, Summer School Third-Grade Teacher Julia López said.
López said that the academic benefits are clear. But she said that this program is so much more than that.
“A lot of these students come back every single year,” said López, who teaches second grade at Mabel Rush during the school year. “Summer School is a community where they come back to see their friends.”
They also make important connections with staff like López and César Meza Prado.
Meza Prado instructs Grades 7-8 at Summer School, which is ideal because, during the school year, he is an English Language Development/Dual Language/English Language Arts Teacher at Newberg High School. He will work with this group of Summer School students and then be a friendly face for them in a few months or a year.
“It’s a good way to build relationships,” he said. “Building up their connections, especially for the kids going to high school, they’ll know someone and know what to expect.”
To keep his classes engaged, he works hard to come up with culturally relevant material, focusing on Central and Latin American texts with which students can connect.
“It means a lot to me and to them,” he said.
Summer School also keeps students on the path toward a successful future, especially with someone like Wildy Rodríguez around. Rodríguez, a Graduation Specialist for the School District, assists Grades 9-12 in credit recovery and said it’s important that Summer School is open to students from preK to 12. It means that older students don’t have to stay home and look after their siblings. They can focus on their learning.
“It’s a small group, so they know each other and can have a little more time to get some extra help,” Rodríguez explained. Then she grinned and added: “And they get to spend time with me!”
Extended School Year
Alongside the Summer School is the Extended School Year team, a group of staff who support students with special needs. ESY can also be found at Edwards Elementary this summer.
One of those staff members is Bailey Weber, a Learning Resource Center Teacher at Newberg High School, who loves how ESY helps with more than just skill building.
“It’s meaningful and really helpful to students all around, socially and educationally,” Weber explained.
ESY Educational Assistant Rich Sterrett, agreed that the social aspect is critical.
“It’s just a really good program for the kids,” said Sterrett, an Educational Assistant at Mountain View Middle School. “It keeps them from regressing academically. Also, a lot of students might not have friends outside of school, so this helps them meet new kids.”
The academics, culture, activities, and socialization make the Summer School and ESY programs valuable to students. But the programs wouldn’t be possible without the amazing staff who make it possible, Doran said.
“We have really great educators and staff who have chosen to sign up and support our kids, and I’m grateful to them for being here,” Doran said.
Photo Captions:
1. Summer School First-Grade Teacher Karen Díaz Carmona, who runs Ballet Folklórico De Nuestros Ancestros (Ballet Folklórico DNA), takes a lunch break with her students. (Photo by Jillian Daley)
2. Fourth-grader Juliana Springs-Rosario explained Summer School perfectly: "We all need a little help. There’s maybe something you don’t get in math or reading. Summer School, it helps fill in the gaps.” (Photo by Jillian Daley)
3. Graduation Specialist Wildy Rodríguez with Sofía Uribe, a 2024 graduate of Newberg High School, who is working as an Educational Assistant at the Summer School this year. (Photo by Jillian Daley)
4. Swimming lessons are back at Summer School after a pandemic-era hiatus. (Photo by Julia Lopez)
Photos 5 to 8: The next four photos are all courtesy of Julia Lopez and are of students doing hands-on learning activities in her second-grade classroom.