This audio is automatically generated, please let us know if you have any feedback.
As the principal, Conway Middle School In Louisville, Kentucky, Jeannie Lett joins her students on field trips. But this summer, she joined some of her school's seventh-graders on a trip to aviation school, where they learned how to launch model rockets and explored hot air balloons from above.
While Lett learned a thing or two about flying on the trip, her most important takeaway was witnessing the students' excitement and desire to learn more about a career in aviation. In fact, Lett never got the chance to fly because many of the students wanted to fly an airplane simulator instead.
“Our students don't get a lot of exposure to different things, different careers like aviation, so I thought this was a great opportunity to expose them to something different,” said Lett, who has been the school's principal for three years.
This summer, the school partnered with a local nonprofit for the first time. I want to reador IWRBR, to provide a two-week summer program in June as well as a two-week aviation-themed camp in July for students entering Grade 6. About 35 students voluntarily attended the first summer session and 37 attended the second session.
Conway Middle School in the Jefferson County School District is a Title I school, serving approximately 700 students in grades six through eight.
Lett said a positive aspect of the partnership is IWRBR's expertise in creating curriculum that keeps students engaged in engaging, academic activities over the summer. “It was almost a turnkey thing,” Lett said.
While IWRBR provided classes, field trips and other learning logistics, the school provided space for students to hold summer programs and was awarded $260,000 from federal American Rescue Plan funds earmarked to help students bounce back from pandemic-related academic setbacks.
Dealing with trauma
IWRBR's curriculum is focused on supporting students who have experienced trauma, which means social-emotional learning components like social skills, behavior management and mindfulness are intentionally built into the program. The organization says many of the students it serves in its after-school, summer camp and tutoring programs have experienced trauma from gun violence, primarily through the loss of family and friends.
IWRBR co-founder Ashley Dearinger said the organization, which focuses on social-emotional learning and literacy, launched its first summer learning program with nine students in 2018. It now serves about 1,000 children in several different communities.
“What we really envision is a future where all students, regardless of socioeconomic level, have access to the same opportunities and can become persistent learners and ultimately successful citizens in our larger community,” Dearinger said.
To date, IWRBR has partnered with six schools and eight community centers to provide after-school and summer programs. The organization also partners with school systems and other organizations to provide after-school and summer programs, as well as family engagement sessions and professional development for educators and after-school program providers.
All IWRBR programs are provided free of charge to participating families. IWRBR receives funding through donations and grants.
Summer learning support
Like Conway Middle School, many schools and districts have allocated federal COVID-19 relief funds for summer learning programs.
A study published earlier this year found that The International School Business Association advises school districts to: Prioritize expanding summer learning and enrichment programs.The survey involved school business professionals who are ASBO members from 116 school districts in 38 states.
Lett said federal emergency COVID-19 funding has helped schools try to support students who have experienced trauma. Aviation camp is “a great opportunity for kids to be exposed to something different that they wouldn't normally get to experience,” he said.
“Some kids just need something to do other than stay at home to take their mind off what's going on with them,” she said.
Lett said he would advise schools to start planning for next year's summer camp programs as early as December, especially for school systems that are trying to align their programs with specific funding sources.
Following the success of the aviation camp, Conway Middle School and IWRBR plan to continue students’ interest in flying by establishing a drone club to allow students to explore remotely operating small aerial devices.