Volume 10 | Issue 1 | September 2024 | |
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Summer break offers a welcome respite from the school year, but for many students, it’s also a time for growth and discovery. At The Leona Group (TLG), we believe that summer learning is not just a continuation of the academic journey but an essential part of learning.
These programs are designed to bridge the gap between the school years, keeping students engaged and enthusiastic about learning. This period offers a unique opportunity for personalized and creative educational experiences that foster a love for learning in a relaxed and stimulating environment. From hands-on projects to collaborative activities, summer programs are crafted to be both enjoyable and enriching.
Check out how the academies below embraced the summer months with innovative programs, exciting activities and inspiring learning experiences. Join us in celebrating the achievements and enthusiasm of our students as they embark on a summer journey filled with knowledge and fun. Every season is a chance to grow, and learning never truly takes a vacation.
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Academy for Business & Technology Elementary | |
This past summer, the Academy for Business and Technology Elementary (ABTE) hosted a STEAM-themed summer school program. Rising first through fourth graders enjoyed an exhilarating literacy program funded through an Out of School Time (OST) grant from Wayne RESA. The program seamlessly integrated STEAM-themed literature studies with engaging science activities, sparking both imagination and inquiry. Each week, students explored captivating books centered around STEAM concepts and applied their newfound knowledge through hands-on science experiments and projects. The excitement extended beyond the classroom with weekly field trips that perfectly complemented the STEAM themes, offering enriching real-world experiences. It was a summer of discovery and learning, fostering a love for reading and exploration for all students. | | |
César Chávez Academy High | |
CCAH Algebra 1 Summer Program | |
Dr. Prong, one of César Chávez Academy High’s (CCAH) wonderful math teachers, offers an accelerated learning opportunity to our incoming freshmen. CCA students take Algebra 1 over the summer and receive credit, allowing them to take higher-level math courses throughout their high school career. This summer, sixteen incoming freshmen excelled in the rigorous math course and received a half credit for passing the Algebra 1 course. On exam day, students and staff celebrated the success with a taco and ice cream lunch. Students signed a special shirt for Dr. Prong and all had a great day! | | |
CCAH ESL Newcomer Program | |
Ms. Nallely Hernandez, a Bilingual Paraprofessional at CCAH, organizes an English Learner program. The program includes opportunities to practice language skills, interact with peers and take field trips within the Detroit community. Photos of their wonderful adventures in the community with staff and student can be found below. | | |
Pontiac Academy for Excellence | |
At Pontiac Academy for Excellence (PAE), the summer learning program saw 71 students across grades K-12 actively engaged in educational activities. Elementary students participated in the Springboard Collaborative reading program, which provides them with valuable reading support. To encourage continued learning at home students received books and various incentives. Parents were also rewarded for their involvement and support during these summer learning initiatives. Middle and high school students focused on strengthening their ELA and Math skills in preparation for the M-STEP and PSAT/SAT assessments. High school students also took the opportunity to complete necessary courses for credit recovery, ensuring they remain on track for graduation. | | |
César Chávez Academy Upper Elementary | |
Cesar Chavez Academy Upper Elementary (CCAUE) students celebrate a successful end to summer school! The celebration marked the culmination of weeks of hard work and learning. This summer session focused on mastering priority standards, ensuring that students strengthened their foundational skills in key areas in math and reading. Teachers and support staff utilized the i-Ready online program to help plan instruction, set goals with students and assess learner progress. This online tool provides personal learning pathways for each student that keep all levels of students engaged and motivated throughout the summer program! | | |
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The Discovery Enrichment Summer Program buzzed with anticipation on a blazing June morning. Kids of all ages, from eager eight-year-olds to curious eleven-year-olds, shuffled to their respective activity stations, each set up to engage young minds in STEAM.
Designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for STEAM, this program offers a dynamic blend of hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and interactive learning experiences. Through its innovative approach to education, the Discovery Enrichment Summer Program enhances students’ STEAM skills and ensures that learning is enjoyable and memorable.
Group projects are a cornerstone of our program. Promoting teamwork and collaborative problem-solving skills. Students work together to design and build models, encouraging communication and collective brainstorming.
Through hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and a mix of educational games and outdoor fun, the Discovery Enrichment Summer Program creates a comprehensive and engaging learning environment. By blending rigorous STEAM education with interactive and enjoyable experiences, our program ensures students learn and develop a lasting enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
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Hope of Detroit Academy Middle/High | |
Summer Enrichment 2024 was all about volcanoes. Exploring the physical, chemical and explosive nature of volcanoes. Students were taken through reading, writing, math and STEAM challenges to learn about one of nature's most transformative phenomena. | | |
César Chávez Academy Lower Elementary | |
Incoming kindergarten students at César Chávez Academy Lower Elementary (CCALE) are enthusiastically prepared for the new school year thanks to their enriching summer school experience. Over the summer, students enjoyed a memorable trip to the Heritage Petting Zoo, where they interacted with animals and engaged in hands-on learning. Additionally, every student participated in the Kids Read Now program, which was supported by grant funding. This initiative allowed each child to receive eight books sent directly to their home throughout the summer, fostering a love for reading and ensuring continuous educational development. With these experiences, our students are ready and excited to start the school year with confidence and curiosity. | | |
Saginaw Preparatory Academy | |
This year at Saginaw Preparatory Academy (SPA), Surf Into Summer camp offered an enriching experience for our students. Mornings focused on academics, emphasizing ELA and math, while afternoons were filled with fun and learning, thanks to community partners like Bridge the Gap and the amazing SPA team. Together, they provided exciting STEM activities, team-building exercises and weekly Taekwondo lessons from a Harlem-based sensei! To wrap up the camp, SPA celebrated with a memorable field trip to the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, creating lasting summer memories! | | |
Detroit Public Safety Academy | |
Detroit Public Safety Academy (DPSA) is beaming with pride over the recent facelift of their building. The renovation enhances the building's aesthetic appeal and symbolizes the new leadership's commitment to investing in its infrastructure and the well-being of its students. With its refreshed exterior, DPSA is looking good heading into the new school year. | | |
Libby and Hoopla are online resources providing access to audiobooks through the app accessed with your library card. | | |
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Starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students gaining the academic and social skills they need to thrive. Research shows that when students are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year or 18 days over an entire school year), they are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school and graduate from high school.
In addition to the well-publicized learning losses, students also lose opportunities to develop socially and gain skills in problem-solving and self-regulation, all of which are needed to grow and learn.
Since the pandemic, national data shows chronic absence almost doubled from 8 million in 2018-19 to 14.7 million students nationwide in 2021-22. That’s one out of three students. Absenteeism has surged among all student groups, at every economic level. Black, Latino, and Native American students, students living in poverty, students with disabilities and English language learners have been especially affected.
Without efforts to reduce chronic absence, education investments designed to improve students’ academic and social losses will miss their mark.
We can nurture a culture of engagement and attendance at school. We all prosper when children and youth, regardless of their race, ethnicity, neighborhood, family income or disability status, have the opportunity to gain skills and abilities that prepare them for success in school, work and life.
Click the Showing Up Matters! button below for Key Messages that schools can use to raise awareness about the urgent need to partner with students and families in order to improve attendance, engagement and academic achievement.
Used with permission from Attendance Works
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We are entering 2024-2025 Teacher Hall of Fame round of inductions, which allows The Leona Group to recognize all of the exceptional things teachers do in our schools. Without teachers who continue to strive for excellence, we would not be able to carry out our company's mission to provide a quality education for students and families.
School leaders, assistant leaders and instructional coaches are asked to submit their Teacher Hall of Fame nominees by March 7th, 2025.
We will have a primary teacher category for grades K-5 and a secondary teacher category for grades 6-12.
These nominations are based on the observations made within each academy. It is up to each school leader to honor a teacher that they feel embodies the spirit of their school's mission. Once the nomination is submitted, the department of academics will review the nominees and base their decisions on who best embodies the spirit of The Leona Group and academic success.
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Midwest Department of Academic Achievement Website: | |
Please explore our website and find pertinent items at your fingertips to help ensure academic success! Save the link in your bookmarks to access it on the fly! | |
Do you have news to share? We'd love to hear from you! | |
The Leona Group, 2125 University Park Drive, Okemos, MI 48864 | | | | |
