Gervais summer school moves the needle

Summer school?

It’s not a term that historically springs enthusiasm when uttered in the vicinity of youth. I mean, it pretty much contradicts the more appealing term "summer vacation."

But teaching and learning participants in Gervais School District this summer are trying to buck that tendency. And according to some reports, the district is enjoying success to that end. GSD is well into its six-week session; a session that, perhaps, received a bit of a boost last spring when district voters gave Gervais a nod with the first passed facilities bond in decades.

“When you do anything in education, and especially anything over the summer months, there is an element of hope. We plan and prepare, and we can use best-practice strategies in everything we do, but we cannot force our students to get up, dress up, and show up,” Gervais Director of Student Services & Federal Programs Creighton Helms said. “Compelling participation rarely bears lasting fruit.”

The first step is resources, and only about 25% of Oregon school districts were recipients of summer-school grant money from the Oregon Department of Education this year. Helms said Gervais is funding its program through a combination of an ODE grant, a Migrant Services grant through the Willamette Education Service District, and several smaller grants.

No district general-fund money is being used to operate the GSD summer program.

The GSD program is unique in that it uses the bulk, 85%, of its funding to hire staff and achieve a remarkably low 5:1 student-teacher ratio. That includes student teachers from Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and Southern Oregon University, a benefit to those college students as well who gain valuable experience.

A key focus at GSD is English language. Helms boasted that this past year the district was 11% above state average in that department; 5th grade was 34% above. He credits small groups with high participation to help maintain that distinction.

“There is no opportunity to be a wallflower during our summer program,” Helms said.

Another feature is “binational” studies; two binational teachers from Mexico, Bella Hidalgo and Hector Hidalgo, meet with students and lead them in various activities such as music, dance and art from their home regions in Mexico.

Bella Hidalgo beamed excitement about “this new journey to offer a peak into (her) culture.” Hector Hidalgo, who has a bachelor’s in tourism, says he teaches with his “heart, soul, and mind.”

“On Fridays, our students have an hour of academic instruction in the morning, and the rest of the day has fun, camp-like options,” Helms said, citing basketball, soccer, disc golf, scratch coding, crafts and board games as examples.

Some key camp-day players include:

o Sra. Valentina Ortiz Pandolfi, a bilingual storyteller from Mexico who specializes interactive student workshops that tell positive stories of migrant experiences;

o Artists-in-Residence from the Salem Art Association (SAA), working with groups of students interested in exploring art with a professional in very creative and engaging ways;

o Woodburn Public Library brings in the Bookmobile to us. All Gervais summer school students get a free library card for the summer.

Other GSD summer-school features include virtual learning opportunities; “KidsReadNow,” which incentivizes reading at home; high-school credit recovery; Kinder Jumpstart; free breakfast, lunch and transportation.

“I'm most excited about the personal attention that our students will receive at summer school,” elementary school teacher Cindy Smith said. “In a regular classroom during the school year, teachers get very few chances to work one-on-one or in small groups. This summer, we have been very fortunate to have enough staff where students can be placed in small groups of 5.

“This fosters an environment where students can build new skills in reading and math, maintain social connections and become more self-confident.”

Helms tips his hat to Smith, high-school teacher Benjamin Poff along with Stacey Helm, and Stephanie So for their enthusiastic engagement.

“These teachers have done significant work before the program and behind-the-scenes, and in every way, we’ll measure student growth and achievement this summer, it is because of their hard work to make it happen,” Helms said.

With weeks behind them, the work appears to be coming to fruition.

“Our hope was that we create programs and environments that not only engage the mind but hold the heart. To that end, I’m beyond thrilled with how our summer school is going this year, because our hope is their reality,” Helms said.

He believes that summer school will “move the needle” for its hundred-plus attendees.

“When we begin school again in a few short weeks, I know that our summer school students will be ready to tackle the year with increased academic skills and personal confidence,” Helms concluded.