Smith County Schools

Extended Learning

Newsletter

May 2016 Stephanie Johnson Program Director

Aaron Martin

Beginning June 1 and continuing through June 21, Smith County Extended Learning is offering a Summer Bridge Program for incoming freshmen at Smith County High. Students who graduated 8th grade are invited to attend this free program. Students will receive career exploration, STEM (forensics camp), explore the school to locate classes, learn about clubs, sports and other activities from student mentors, participate in fitness games, technology, academic enrichment, and take field trips. The group will meet daily from 8 a.m.– 2 p.m. each week day during the period. For more information, contact Taylor Key at SCHS or Stephanie Johnson at 615-735-9625.

Year End Review

It is hard to believe the extended learning year has come and gone so quickly. Smith County Extended Learning

has done so many exciting things this year. Students have been involved in a variety of programs. Tutoring was

offered in the morning at all sites and in small groups in the afternoon. Of course, the traditional homework help,

academic remediation/enrichment, and a healthy snack were offered at all nine locations each day. Two sites par-

ticipated in special reading programs to improve and cultivate reading skills in order to engage students to become

lifelong readers. Cookie Jar Mystery and Missing Money Mystery Forensics Camps were used at three sites. A

combination of snap circuits, robotics, kitchen STEM projects, and Brick Labs were used at all nine sites. Three

sites participated in the Jr. Ranger Program with the Tennessee State Parks Service. Students have enjoyed fit-

ness programs and guest speakers from local agencies and business at all sites. CES and FRS have been invited

by the Tennessee State Parks Service to participate in the Play 60 event at Nissan Stadium on May 26. Students

will be transported to the stadium to participate in games and meet the Titans players. These students are very

excited!

Participation in the before and after-school programs this year was tremendous. At least two of the nine sites pop-

ulation doubled in size. The sites each averaged five parent involvement activities throughout the year. Grant Co-

hort 12-13 served 272 students and Grant Cohort 14 served 130 students for 30+ days. The numbers surpassed

our goal of 246 and 108 respectively. Students participating for 30+ days in the program made improvements in

Math and RLA grades as well as progress in AimsWeb testing from fall to winter testing period. Over 50% of the

students who remained with the program 30 or more days raised either or both Math/RLA scores on AimsWeb.

Students at both high schools recovered credits in order to stay on track to graduate with their class (SCHS 24

Seniors recovered credits) (GHS 6 Seniors received Language Arts credits to graduate.).

The Smith Co. Extended Learning Staff is looking forward to serving the students of Smith County next year and

making improvements in the program through suggestions and data that was collected this school year.

Smith County Extended Learning Staff

Site Directors:

Jyl Smith, CES; Kelli Martin, DES; Amanda Thompson, FRS; Susan Myers, GES; Shawn Frye,

GHS; Nancy Bradley, NMS; Janet Bailey, SCHS; Teresa Jones, SCMS; Ashley Smith, UHS

2015-2016 Memories...