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Skill
Builders Summer Camp
The Joy School
Skill Builders Summer Camp
was created to fill a unique need in Houston. While many
schools provide activity based summer programs for
students with learning differences, it is clear that
there is a need for an intensive program that can
specifically address the deficits faced by these
students.
For many families, the summer has
historically been “catch up” time if a child has not had
a successful school year. Many families try one-on-one
tutoring, but this requires many hours of commitment on
the part of both the families and the tutor in order to
be effective. Given vacation schedules, as well as
complicated logistics, this can prove to be a challenge.
Other families try traditional summer school programs
provided by public school systems. Unfortunately, with a
student/teacher ratio not all that different from the
regular school year, effects are minimal.
Anyone working with school age
children knows that motivating students to participate
in a remedial summer program can be difficult. Most kids
would prefer to lounge the summer days away without
having to be driven to tutoring and various therapies
while their friends are vacationing or participating in
fun camps. It is our hope that providing a program that
provides students with enough intensity to have an
impact, but in a relaxed atmosphere where they are with
peers who share similar needs, kids will be pleased to
participate so that the remainder of the summer can be
focused on the “fun stuff”.
At The Joy
School, we believe in the importance of kids having time
to be kids. We believe that summer should allow time
for students, regardless of their grades or academic
difficulties, to relax and spend a significant amount of
time simply enjoying life. However, we also know what
happens to kids when their academic deficits are not
addressed. We know that the gap inevitably widens each
year that intervention does not take place. Our hope is
to provide a program that allows for intensive
intervention for a limited, but meaningful period of
time, so that the challenges faced may be minimized upon
the start of the new school year. We do not believe
that any summer program is enough to “cure” a diagnosis,
or to make up for years of lost instruction, but we do
hope to provide all summer school participants with
tools and strategies that can be used from day one upon
their return to school.
Program Specifics
Director
Laura (Connor) Rodriguez, M. Ed, our
Lower
School Principal/ Educational
Diagnostician, will serve as this year’s Summer Camp
director. Mrs. Rodriguez will be your main contact for
questions regarding admissions, class placement, etc.
Throughout the summer, Mrs. Rodriguez will also work
with teachers to ensure that all students are placed in
appropriate classes such that their time spent in summer
school can be optimized. To reach Mrs. Rodriguez,
please dial ext. 222 or email her at: lrodriguez@thejoyschool.org
Admissions
Students will be accepted based on
our belief that our program can provide meaningful
benefits to address the child’s particular needs. This
decision will be based on testing reports and parent
descriptions submitted during the application process.
Some students may be asked to participate in a brief
interview session to ensure that we fully understand the
child’s needs. Most students will likely attend local
public and private schools, perhaps have been recently
diagnosed with a specific learning disability, or simply
are struggling with the regular school curriculum.
Please submit a recent picture of
your child with the application.
Placement
In general,
students will be grouped based on a combination of
chronological age, current grade level, and current
school placement. Class sizes will average 6 students
per teacher, depending on the needs of the students.
All curriculum planning decisions will be based on the
needs of the students within each group.
School Day
The school day will run 8:30-3:00,
Monday through Friday. There are two consecutive
three-week sessions:
June 2-June 26 and June 23-July
11
Students may attend one or both
sessions.
Teachers
All Skill
Builders Summer Camp teachers are current teachers with
The Joy School. Their school year experience and
intensive training provide them with the tools required
to teach a range of student needs in the summer school
classroom.
Policies and Procedures
1.
All payments must be
received by the first day of the session. Students may
not attend classes until paid in full.
2.
Payment of tuition is for the
entire three-week session, regardless of whether a
student attends all three weeks available. No tuition
refunds will be made.
3.
Students should arrive no later
than 8:40 a.m. in order to get the most out of the
program, as make up time cannot be granted.
4.
Students must be picked up no later
than 3:15 p.m. There will be a $15 late charge for
every fifteen-minute increment beyond 3:15 p.m. that a
student is left at school. For example, if a child is
not picked up until 3:40, the family will be charged
$30, as there are two fifteen minutes
increments—3:15-3:30 and 3:30-3:45.
5.
Students are
expected to comply with all classroom and school rules.
Any child deemed to be disruptive to the learning
environment, or dangerous to others, will be dismissed
immediately.
6.
Students are required to bring a
lunch to school everyday. Snacks are also encouraged.
Carbonated soft drinks are not allowed.
7.
Students should wear comfortable
clothing appropriate for a school setting. Open toe,
backless shoes are not allowed.
Nondiscriminatory
Policy
The
Joy
School admits
students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin
to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities
generally accorded or made available to students at the
school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, national and ethnic origin in administration of
its educational policies, admissions policies,
scholarship programs and other school-administered
programs.
Our Instructional Program
Reading
All classes will provide a review of
the basic spelling patterns of English through an Orton-Gillingham
drill. This program emphasizes decoding abilities used
for both reading and spelling words. Multisensory
teaching methods will be employed to maximize student
learning. Students will also participate in fluency
building activities, as appropriate. Our programs helps
students make the leap from sounding out individual
words and “sounding like a robot” when they read, to
quickly recognizing common sight words and phrases to
become more fluent readers. Comprehension strategies
will also be taught and practiced throughout all reading
activities.
Math
The primary focus of the summer math
curriculum will be mastery of basic skills. Activities
to boost memorization of math facts will be employed
daily, such as games, Mad Minutes, and other drills. In
addition, daily word problems will used to review
strategies and key words helpful in solving such
problems.
Writing
All
classes will have a writing component. Depending on the
ages, abilities, and developmental readiness of each
group, activities may include structured journal
writing, basic paragraph instruction, essay writing,
etc. Strategies for brainstorming writing ideas, as
well as organizing those ideas, such as outlining,
webbing, etc. will also be reinforced.
Handwriting/Keyboarding
Each
student will be assessed to determine the most
appropriate course of action for handwriting or
keyboarding instruction. Some students may need
manuscript handwriting instruction, while others may
need cursive. Older students, entering 4th
grade or above, will participate in our keyboarding
instructional program, using AlphaSmarts (mini word
processors) and computer based games.
Spatial Awareness
For
students who demonstrate weaknesses in skills such as
handwriting, organization, reading comprehension, or
understanding math concepts, poor spatial awareness
(often labeled as visual motor integration or visual
perception) is often the culprit. All students will be
assessed to determine the appropriate level of
instruction if needed. Dr. Jerome Rosner’s geoboard
program and Spatial Awareness Skills Program will be
used to address these needs.
The
Joy
School
Summer School 2008
Tuition and Fee Schedule
Application Fee
$25 Due upon application
Enrollment Deposit $100
Due within 10 days of acceptance
Tuition Session I
$950 Due May 30th,
2008
Tuition Session II $950 Due
June 20th, 2008
Tuition Both Sessions $1850 Due
May 30th, 2008
Application Fee
is nonrefundable and must
be received with the completed application. This covers
the time involved in reviewing applications,
interviewing parents and students if necessary, and
contacting outside professionals as needed.
Enrollment Deposit
is nonrefundable and ensures your child’s spot in the
program. The $100 may be deducted from tuition.
Tuition
is due May 30th, 2008 for all students attending the first
session. In order to qualify for the discount for
attending both sessions, full payment for both sessions
must be paid by May 30th, 2008. For students only
attending the second session, tuition is due in full by
June 20, 2008.
We
regret that financial assistance and payment plan
options are not available for our summer school programs
this year.
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