Thousands of WRDSB students register for virtual summer school

The end of the school year is just a few weeks away, but the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) will welcome thousands of students back again in July for summer school programs.

This is will be the second year in a row that the WRDSB will offer summer schoolvirtually, using both asynchronous and synchronous learning platforms.

There are more than 2,500 secondary students registered,and just over 1,000 students registered fortransition support programs inGrades 6, 7, 8,saidRon Boer, superintendent of student achievement and wellbeing with WRDSB.

Virtual summer school will run from July 5 to 29.

Grades 6, 7, 8 summer program

The board has a courseset up forGrades 6, 7, 8 that will help students sharpen their numeracy and literacy skills over a four-week period.

"We're going to be running classes at 10 to 12 students in each class and will be supported by special education resourceteacher and well as their classroom teacher," DeBoer toldThe Morning EditionWednesday.

There will also be opportunities for students to have one-on-one sessions with their teachers, he said.

The board also offers a summer program for English Language Learners in those grades thatwill focus on communication skills, reading and writing.

Grade 8Reach Ahead course

Grade 8 students who are going into high school can take a Reach Ahead course. The program allows students toearn onecredit that will count toward their overall high school credits.

"Students in this course will learn literacy skills, numeracy skills to close some of the gaps they experience in the last year, and also study skills. Skills on how to work in teams andcollaborate," he said.

"We know that if students miss one credit in Grade 9, their chances of graduating diminish significantly, so for these students to get a credit before they enter secondary school is significant."

DeBoer said roughly 300 students have signed up.

High school summer program

WRDSBis offering 45 courses for high school studentsthis summer. Most of them are in math, science and English.

Supports similar to the elementary programwill also be available for high school students, DeBoer said, like adding special education resource teachers in classrooms.

DeBoer said the board added a second virtual co-op class this summer after a successful pilot in 2020, which came handy during the lock downs this school year.

"We have almost 60 students signed up and a waiting list," he said. "We have really great interest in them."

The board is also reminding students there are different ways they can get their community service hours done over the summer.

DeBoer said students can do chores around the house, babysit siblings ifparents work from home or write letters to family members in long term care homes.