Extended School Year Summer Program Goes for the Gold

Extended School Year Summer Program Goes for the Gold

The Olympics was the theme for Mountain View School District’s Extended School Year (ESY) summer program which provided students fun theme-based instruction in a structured environment for learning and development.

Through individualized instruction and small group work, the ESY teachers and support staff provided essential services for students ensuring they had continuity in their educational and social development, as well as support as they transition back to in-person learning. In addition to their classroom instruction focusing on the foundational skills of English Language Arts and Math, following the Olympic theme, each class represented a country and students enjoyed researching and learning about the culture, foods and facts of their assigned country, as well as the history of the Olympic games and events the athletes compete in.
The students also spent time with Adaptive PE teacher, Juan Carlos Mejia learning the skills to compete in the program’s culminating activity, the ESY Olympic Games.

“The Special Education Department was happy to be able to offer in-person Extended School Year this summer,” said Karen Silberman, Ed.D.,Director of Student Support Services and Special Education. “We stressed outdoor activities and social-emotional learning. The Olympics theme made it exciting for our students to participate and our Adaptive PE teacher taught the students the skills that they needed to be successful. All in all, it was a super successful ESY experience!”

To conclude the four-week program, the 2021 ESY Olympic Games, complete with opening ceremonies and a torch run, were held with students competing for gold, silver and bronze medals in the Discus Throw, Relay Race, Shot Put, Javelin and 20 Yard Dash. The students had a great time participating in the events and showed great sportsmanship as they earned their medals.

“The games are fun,” said James as he finished an amazing javelin throw. “My class has Brazil and Brazil is the largest country in South America,” he said excitedly as he shared the fun fact about the country he’s been studying.

Special medal ceremonies were held in classrooms with ESY staff members presenting gold, silver and bronze medals to the top competitors in each class. Participation medals were also given to every student who took part in the games. The students were very excited to receive their medals and wore them proudly around their neck.

The ESY summer program succeeded in combining a number of different activities that provided an engaging learning experience for students and promoted positive social-emotional and physical development.

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