Ready For High School Students Pick Up Their Study And Survival Skills For Secondary Education At Shadle’S Summer Academy

After Ashley Bellmond failed math in eighth grade, high school math loomed before her like a steep mountain pass - tough and intimidating.

But after devoting a few weeks of her summer vacation to Shadle Park High School’s Summer Academy, Bellmond is getting a head start on back-to-school by brushing up on math skills and more.

“I’ve learned how to take better notes,” said Bellmond, who will be a freshman this fall. “And I feel better (about starting high school) because I’m learning stuff I didn’t get before.”

The academy also enables Bellmond and other students to get ahead in other ways.

“Lots of kids are meeting other people and have started making friends, and they’re learning at the same time,” Bellmond said.

Now in its second year, the Shadle Summer Academy focuses on language arts and math review for incoming ninth-graders.

Though last year’s summer academy was optional, this year educators invited many kids who teachers predict “would have the greatest difficulty making the transition,” said Shadle principal Emmett Arndt.

“This gives the group an opportunity to feel better connected in the first weeks of school than they would have without this,” he said.

This year’s academy hosts 40 soon-to-be-freshman who are divided into two groups. The groups spend two hours in each class for three weeks.

“By extending the learning time we can improve learning for those having difficulty,” Arndt said. “Now that the state has learning standards and students have to pass the (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) to graduate, we feel an extra responsibility to students. We do not want any student to be in a position to not meet that standard.”

Summer Academy classes are small and relaxed; halls are unnaturally quiet. In addition to the academic review, students get their class schedule and learn the school fight song. They’re taught reading and test-taking strategies, how to read for information and how to take notes during a lecture.

“It’s important because it makes them feel comfortable. It takes the fear out of it,” said Summer Academy teacher Tippy Carr. “It helps them figure out whom to ask for help.”

“During the school year, they might be struggling with multiplication while the teacher is teaching algebra,” added teacher Steve Klopsch. “This gives them an opportunity to have their questions answered.” The extra class time also can benefit teachers.

“It gives me a chance to know some kids, so I can give their teachers and counselors more information so they know what to expect ahead of time,” Carr said.

Carr, who also taught in last year’s Summer Academy, said responses about the academy from those kids were “generally positive.” It seems this year will bring more of the same.

Chris Adams said he came to the academy because he got a couple of Fs in eighth grade.

“My parents wanted me to come here to get my grades better,” he said.

Now, he’s picked up some study skills and learned some math along the way.

“It’s fun,” he said, though noting that the academy tends to eat into his daytime. But any hesitancy he felt about starting high school has vanished.

“Now,” he said, “I’m ready for it.”