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Summer school offers loads of learning and fun
At North Crawford
North Crawford

NORTH CRAWFORD = At their May 18 meeting, the North Crawford School Board learned of all the learning and fun that is lined up for students in the school’s summer learning program. From hoola hooping and ‘Pint Size Polkas,’ to The Great Outdoors!, ‘Out of this World,’ basketball, strength training and baked goods and adventures, students are guaranteed to combine literacy and math with all kinds of fun learning experiences.

The summer session will run from June 13 to July 1, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the district will provide transportation to and from school. The day will also include a breakfast and lunch, provided at no cost to the family. The summer school coordinator will be Carrie Galindo.

According to the district, “high quality summer learning programs are associated with a range of positive academic and social development outcomes, including improved literacy skills, self esteem and leadership.” 

The morning in the summer learning program will be dedicated to fun academic learning, and the program will have a ‘camp-like’ feel, with casual, yet effective instruction and engaging activities. Activities (weather permitting) will include plenty of outdoor time, field trips, group learning and teamwork, and exploration.

The afternoon will offer a variety of enrichment activities for students to choose from, tailored to their age group.

For students entering K-1, enrichment classes will include Fun with Legos, Picture Perfect Science and STEM, and The Great Outdoors!

‘The Great Outdoors!’ will be taught by Erica Wilson, and will allow students to learn through hikes, scavenger hunts, outdoor games and messy activities.

For students entering grades K-2, enrichment classes will include Picture Perfect Science and STEAM, Fun with Legos, and Lunch & Literacy.

For students entering grades 2-3, offerings will be expanded to ‘Out of this World!’ Taught by Hayley Schaub, this class will allow students to learn about space – the planets, phases of the moon, and event some rocket building.

For students entering grades 2-4, offerings will expand to include Creative Writing, and Dance. Book v. Movie and STEM will be offered to students entering grades 3-5. ‘Book v. Movie,’ taught by Alyssa Page and Sarah Haefer, will allow students to compare stories as presented in a book versus how they are presented in a movie – students should “be ready to become a movie critic.”

‘Games, Games, Games’ will be taught by Paul Kota and open to students in grades 2-8. Students will be able to learn a few dice games, card games, board games, puzzles, crosswords and activity games. Students in grades 3-8 will be offered ‘Let’s Play Volleyball,’ and a Theater Workshop taught by Rob Ghormley will be open to students in grades 4-5.

In grades 3-6, students can participate in a Youth Basketball Skill Development class, for those in grades 4-8, Max Moderski will lead an Outdoor Games class playing games such as Ultimate Frisbee, Yard Games, Ultimate Tag and more.

For students entering grades 6-8, Liz Bransky will offer Computer Programming Fun & Games. Bransky will also offer students in grades 6-8 ‘Pedals and Pastries,’ where students will bake goodies to fuel their fun. When they aren’t in the kitchen, students will be playing games inside or out, and having adventures.

Students in grades 7-12 will have the opportunity to participate in ‘Basketball: How to be a Great Scorer,’ and ‘Strength and Conditioning’ classes, both taught by Chris Wettstein.

Teacher Derrik Junker will offer students in grades 5-12 summer band lessons as well.

Summer credit recovery

For students in grades 9-12 who did not pass semesters of classes, they will have the opportunity to make up the credit(s) in the summer learning program from June 13-July 1. The Credit Recovery session will be coordinated by Eileen Robel.

They will work with a teacher certified in the content area to determine what level of proficiency they need to demonstrate through summative testing in order to be done with summer learning.

The board changed the language in their Handbook regarding Summer Credit Recovery. Instead of requiring the student to spend 72 hours in the summer learning program, the students will have a three-week period where they will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the classes they are making up. At such time as the teacher deems the student to have demonstrated proficiency needed to earn the credit, the student may exit summer school.

Appointments/officers

Because of a miscalculation based on high turnover on the board over the course of the last few years, it was necessary to appoint a board member to serve a one-year term on the board. Jesse Swenson, who was elected believing that her term would last until 2023, but whose term on the board ended in April of 2022, was unable to file papers to run for the board in the April 2022 election.

For this reason, the board needed to act to fill the one-year term at their last meeting.

Ed Heisz moved, and Terry O’Donnell seconded, a motion to appoint Jesse Swenson to a one-year term on the school board. The board approved her appointment unanimously.

Then, it was time to elect the officers of the board from among themselves.

For the office of president of the school board, Ed Heisz nominated Terry O’Donnell, and Jim Dworschack nominated Jerry Coleman. Terry O’Donnell was elected president of the board by a 4-3 vote.

For the office of vice president, Ed Heisz nominated Jim Dworschack, and Jim Dworschack nominated Jerry Coleman. Jim Dworschack was elected vice president by a 4-3 vote.

For the office of clerk, Jesse Swenson nominated Judy Powell, and she was elected clerk by a unanimous vote.

For the office of treasurer, Jesse Swenson nominated Jerry Coleman, and he was elected treasurer by a unanimous vote.

In other business

In other business, the board:

• heard from retiring elementary teacher Julie Kruizenga about how much she enjoyed her years as a teacher in the district, including for 10 years before the new building was built, and how she hopes that more people find out what a wonderful school district North Crawford is

• agreed to keep the day of school board meetings the third Wednesday of the month, but to move up meeting start time to 6 p.m., with any closed session occurring after the regular meeting concludes

• approved several overnight trips for the North Crawford FFA Club between June 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, to include the state convention in June 2022, State FFA Camp in July 2022,  the national convention in October 2022, and five events in 2023 with dates currently unknown

• agreed to make a $1,000 donation to the Village of Gays Mills to help with operation of the swimming pool

• approved the list of 2022 graduating seniors

• approved spending from the Foodservice Fund, which had accumulated too much money according to DPI, to replace the condenser/evaporator on the walk-in refrigerator and freezer, purchase and plumb a new dishwasher, and purchase new food preparation tables, two new warmers, and a new can rack, with additional proposals coming

• heard that as of earlier in the week, FEH Associates told Brandon Munson that so far, 140 school district voters had completed the referendum survey, with 90 percent supporting the roof and windows projects, 60 percent supporting the Ag and Tech Ed projects, and with between 50-60 percent supporting the other building improvement items

• heard that North Crawford High School students had done very well in a statewide math contest, with the varsity team coming in second out of 10 teams with 104 points, and the JV team coming in first out of 10 teams with 214 points.