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Fredonia notes positive summer school results

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Fredonia teacher Jennifer Sobilo, a fifth-year teacher at Fredonia Elementary, gave a presentation to the Board of Education on the success of the summer school program at a recent meeting.

With a shift in mentality to more of a “summer camp” feel as opposed to school, paired with reorganization of classroom assignment, Fredonia’s summer school program yielded positive results this year.

The Fredonia Board of Education was pleased with the results shared in a presentation by Jennifer Sobilo, a fifth-year teacher at Fredonia Elementary who was an Administrative Intern this summer with the summer school program.

The Fredonia Central School District reorganized its summer school program this past summer for elementary students based on what areas students need to improve upon. As opposed to other years, this summer Fredonia assigned students in grades one to three into skill-based class groups determined by teacher feedback, assessments, and additional services.

Grade four remained as a grade-level cohort as the district focused on the students’ transition to middle school. One grade four cohort reported to Sobilo that having students in their own separate group “really helped with their social and emotional learning, their maturity, and their academics when they transition into the middle school.”

The district used a rotation system throughout the grade levels, which Sobilo claimed, “increased student engagement and the teacher engagement, as well.”

“The teachers really appreciated being able to work with grades one, two and three instead of just their typical grade,” said Sobilo.

Students all had what the district called “exploration time” to focus on STEM or STEAM based projects with their homeroom teacher.

According to Sobilo’s presentation to the Board of Education, 74 percent of students maintained or improved their oral reading fluency skills. Sobilo noted the main goal of the summer program was that students maintain their skills, rather than regress.

Sobilo also noted that attendance rates in the summer programs were up 80 percent this year.

The feedback already has been positive from the district and the Fredonia Teachers Association members. “The FTA is pleased and excited to be embarking on a new school year. The opening days were successful, which speaks volumes about the summer preparation by your faculty and staff,” said Michelle Greenough, Fredonia Teachers Association President.

“We really enjoyed summer school and I hope that this productively yields some results for next summer,” said Sobilo.

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