Noel Elementary Students Learn, Stay Active In Summer
Summer school is both educational and fun, according to Noel Elementary principal Samantha Buckridge.
“We make it fun,” she said. “Besides academic subjects like math and reading, they get claymation, cooking classes, drones, rockets, more exciting things in the summer. And we also take a few field trips and we have water days where they can get wet. So we make it fun for them. And if they have perfect attendance, they earn $100.”
Summer school is optional and does not involve remedial work, Buckridge said.
“We can suggest it if they have struggled through the year. There’s a rule in fourth grade that, if they have a certain reading score and haven’t put in enough tutoring hours, they have to come to summer school; but we didn’t have any of those,” she said.
She said about 50 percent of the school’s teachers return for summer school. They teach one subject and an elective each.
Southwest City students are attending summer school at Noel. There are about 600 total students between both schools and, out of those, 300 are attending summer school, Buckridge said.
Summer school started May 30 and runs through June 29. It is much like regular school. Days are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Buses run, with somewhat modified pickup arrangements, Buckridge said. The cafeteria serves breakfast and lunch. Students have recess and P.E. every day.
Regarding the purpose of summer school, Buckridge said, “The purpose is to keep kids engaged in school. It helps parents during the summer months since they have to work and lets kids have something fun to do. I think it’s a great opportunity for students and teachers to connect in a fun atmosphere.”
Assistant superintendent Angie Brewer said, “They are doing trips to the movies, the splash pad at Grove. They are making drones, rockets, doing computer coding, cooking. They have water days on Fridays. It is fun.”
“The purpose is to keep kids engaged in school. It helps parents during the summer months since they have to work and lets kids have something fun to do. I think it’s a great opportunity for students and teachers to connect in a fun atmosphere.”
Samantha Buckridge Noel Elementary School principal