Press Release

BUSY SUMMER IN DPS

Summer has just begun but thousands of students will head back to classrooms next week. Nearly 7,000 of the district's 70,000 students will attend the district's four-week summer school program in an effort to stay on grade level.

But summer school is only one of many activities and programs throughout the district, including enrichment programs, recreational opportunities and a busy construction schedule.

For contractors and district managers overseeing all the activity, the summer pace will be non-stop. Following is a rundown of DPS summer activities:

DPS Summer School. From June 26 through July 21, students in grades 1 through 10 who need an academic boost will attend summer school. The program will be held at 45 schools. At elementary schools, the program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; at middle schools, from 9:10 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.; at high schools from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. About 4,000 students who are behind in reading are expected in grades two through eight. About 525 students in grades nine and ten who have not received credit for Algebra I or II are anticipated. Another 2,300 students in grades one through eight whose native language is not English are expected to attend English Language Development classes.

Southwest Scholars. Literacy programs for kindergarten and first-grade students are being offered at five elementary schools by the Southwest Family Center. The classes, which started June 19, run Monday through Thursday 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. until July 27. The five schools are Barnum, Fairview, Munroe, Newlon and Valverde.

Summer Reading. Cowell Elementary School will host a Summer Reading Program for Cowell second- and third-graders August 1 through August 18 from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Summer Math Enrichment. Philips Elementary School plans a Summer Math Enrichment program for third- and fourth-grade students. Students will participate in hands-on activities in math and science. They will also take field trips to apply what they learn. The program will run from June 27 through July 27.

Learn and Earn. About 300 students will participate in a program where they learn to refurbish donated computers and upon completion of the four-week course, take a computer home. The program will be offered mornings at Remington Elementary School and Smiley, Rishel, Lake and Skinner middle schools.

Summer Scholars. This summer school program in northeast Denver provides morning literacy classes and afternoon recreational activities. The program, which runs June 26 through August 4, will be housed at Ashley, Barrett, Columbine, Ebert, Garden Place, Gilpin, Hallett, Harrington, Montclair, Moore, Palmer, Park Hill, Philips, Smith, Stedman, Swansea, Whittier and Wyman elementary schools, and Pioneer and Wyatt-Edison charter schools.

Beacon Centers. After-school and evening programming for children, youth and community members will be offered by Beacon sites located at Lake, Rishel and Cole middle schools. Because of construction projects, Rishel's programs will be held at Godsman Elementary School and Cole's will be at Columbine Elementary this summer. All sites will incorporate educational activities, enrichment activities, technology programs and recreational activities. Programs begin June 26 and end August 4.

Neighborhood Centers. Located at Horace Mann, Smiley and Morey middle schools, neighborhood centers will offer educational and enrichment activities for students and community members. Because of construction activity, Horace Mann summer programs will be held at Remington Elementary School. Remington will provide youth programs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adult classes will be offered Monday and Wednesday evenings. Classes started June 19 and will run through the month of July. Smiley will offer a four-week seminar beginning June 26 on Colorado history for middle school students. Morey will offer open gym and swimming as well as fee-based yoga, kickboxing, water aerobics and other classes. Activities begin June 26.

Construction. District staff will perform construction, maintenance and repair projects on more than 90 of the district's 120 schools. Among major projects being completed is Green Valley Elementary School, which will open this fall. Other major projects include classroom additions at Knapp, Munroe, Newlon, Castro, Valverde, Barnum, Cowell and Eagleton elementary schools, renovations of Southmoor Elementary School, Cole Middle School and Montbello High School. Additionally, Ash Grove Elementary School, the new home of the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning, will undergo extensive renovations, as will All-City Stadium. Through the city of Denver's Neighborhood bond project, DPS will also oversee the addition of athletic fields at Rishel, Kunsmiller, Henry, Smiley, Horace Mann, Grant, Merrill, Hamilton and Kepner middle schools.