Clay Schools Set Start Date For All Three Summer Learning Camps

All three summer learning camps in Clay County have their start dates set for 2022.

That includes the the learning camp for rising 1st through 5th graders, learning loss bridge camp and STREAM mini camps. Supervisor of Instruction Misty Strong said that camps will start on May 23.

However, Strong said the end date is still tentative.

“We don’t know if it’s going to be a six week program like it was last year,” Strong said. “Or if TDOE will allow waivers for less weeks in the program. So it could be anywhere from four to six weeks.”

Strong said the longest the camps would run is until June 30. Strong said that a transportation grant being offered will be the key to the camps success, so the system can offer transportation to and from the camps.

She said that depending on student enrollment, camps will take place at Hermitage Springs School and Celina K-8.

“A lot of our parents are unable to transport their students themselves, due to either a work schedule or lack of a vehicle or funds for fuel,” Strong said. “Especially during the summer months our families place their students in the care of grandparents or other family members. So sometimes that is difficult as well to work around work schedules or obligations of their summer caretakers.”

She said consistent transportation will be key to strong attendance numbers.

Strong said the system will begin forming the enrollment plan in February, before April testing. She said at that point in the year, the system has test results needed to target students who need extra resources.

“By that time we will have two scores of our benchmark assessment which is the MAP,” Strong said. “We would have had a fall 2021 and a winter 2021 assessment score to determine growth for ELA and math and reading. So we look at those scores as well as current classroom performance.”

Strong said that the system will work to form the list of students in that February to April window. She said this will hopefully give parents enough time to plan accordingly for their student to attend.