Volume 4, Issue 10

Dear Huron Academy Families,

With the end of the school year less than two weeks away, staff & students are incredibly thrilled about all of the end-of-year celebrations and Summer Academy events, along with a break from the regular hours and 5-day weeks.  There’s something about this time of year that brings a great deal of excitement; even those of us that don’t leave the school over summer find it to be a bit more relaxed, and believe me, we’re working just as hard as the regular school year!  

I talk about it every year, and here is my reminder – do all that you can to avoid the “summer slide” that so many students across the country face.  Every fall, 52-73% of students perform lower on their test scores than they do in the previous spring.  With student achievement at a concerningly low level nationwide, and Michigan being among the lowest states in the nation (44th in literacy according to most recent studies), it is more important than ever that our Huron Academy families work with their children over the summer.

While our Summer Academy program has the most enrollment we’ve ever seen, including new curriculum options and exciting new discovery opportunities with field trips, there are several guidelines worth following to avoid the “summer slide” that are beneficial whether your child is in the program or not, including:

• Keep a summer journal and scrapbook (keeps kids reflecting and practicing writing skills)
• Find math everywhere (board games, cooking measurements, etc.)
• Go to the library (keeps kids reading and exploring new ideas/concepts)
• Educational apps (if they’re playing video games, make them learn too!)
• Get outside and play (this is good for physical exercise and mental stimulation)

At the end of the day, the most important thing we can do is keep our kids busy and active and not sitting around watching TV for 2 months straight (but by all means, take advantage of the occasional rainy day to do nothing but that!).  Make the most out of your summer for your family, and ideally, they’ll return in the fall recharged and ready to learn.

In the meantime, we’ll be at the school preparing for next year, working with contractors on the parking lot and playground, and of course, having fun with the kids that are here for our Summer Academy program, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office if needed.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer that is safe, happy, and healthy, and I look forward to seeing you all at Open House this coming August.

Sincerely,

Joshua Sobczak,
Superintendent