Summer School Scholarships

For four years the 112 Education Foundation has subsidized the District 112 technology-rich summer school program “Computer Camp & More.” Last summer the Foundation contributed $11,000 providing scholarships for over 30 children. Through Foundation support, children without access to computers at home are able to maintain and acquire skills that will help them excel in their regular classrooms.

What makes this camp so successful is a group of tech-savvy, enthusiastic Summer School staff that creates dynamic lessons through the use of technology to provide both a fun and educational experience for the students.

This five-week program is most definitely state of the art! When students walk in the door at Oak Terrace School, they pick up their MacBooks, digital cameras, Lego Robots, or their digital camcorders for a truly 21st century experience. The program offers classes such as Tech-Wise Study Skills. The Tech-Wise class was created to use computer applications in order to help students get the most out of their educational experience. Several computer and web-based programs were utilized during this Computer Camp class (i.e. PowerPoint, Word, Excel, My Oats, Sumo Paint, Xtra Normal). The goal was to build student confidence, comfort, and efficiency. Students learned the "ins-and-outs" of WordArt, the use of images and sound, animation, as well as technological shortcuts that make school life a little easier. These skills enable the students to enhance homework assignments, papers, projects, and so much more.

In addition to the technology-based classes the program offers other fun classes such as Culinary Explorations, Soccer, Latin Dance and Chess. Attendance for the program has skyrocketed due to the rapidly growing popularity of the camp. We continue to grow, this year we had a total of 535 children participate, and last summer we had 515 children.

Northwood ESL teacher Michelle Flores, along with Special Education Learning Coordinator Diane Denes, directs the summer program. “Students in our district are very lucky to have such an amazing program. They are getting amazing teachers, innovative lessons, and the best technology has to offer in five amazing weeks,” said Flores.

 

Students Tinker with Robotics at Oak Terrace School During Summer 2009