The Morning Report
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By Sarah Beauchemin
Ingenuity Charter School is offering an excellent independent study summer session for students who are looking to make up credits, or even get ahead on their regular credits. This summer, Ingenuity – which opened in 2015 with a dedicated group of 160 students, and counting – will host their third year of successful summer learning opportunities.
Students enrolled in Ingenuity’s summer session enjoy the same independent study blended learning program that Ingenuity follows during the regular school year. This means students complete their studies through an online course curriculum, called Edgenuity, which allows them the flexibility to balance their employment and home life obligations with school.
But Ingenuity is not a strictly online school; students come in between one and four times a week to meet and learn with instructors who track their progress and offer assistance in a one-on-one setting. These in-person meetings provide the necessary mentorship and guidance to ensure that Ingenuity’s students stay engaged and actively involved with their own education.
[call_to_action color=”” button_text=”Click here” button_url=”http://www.ingenuitycharter.org/directions”]Contact Ingenuity today to enroll in Ingenuity Charter School’s flexible summer session[/call_to_action]How Summer Session at Ingenuity Works
Summer session at Ingenuity offers students the same benefits they get during the regular school year. For example, students have 24/7 access to their online curricula through Edgenuity, and must meet in person with their instructors as scheduled. Like the regular school year, Ingenuity’s summer session has open enrollment. Many students have already enrolled in the summer session to take advantage of enrichment opportunities or catch up on course credits.
“Ingenuity’s summer session is a great opportunity for students to upgrade their learning over the summer to be better prepared for the next grade – particularly in the subjects of Math and English,” said Stephen Shilling, one of Ingenuity’s blended learning instructors.
While some students enrolled in Ingenuity’s summer session are there to make up required coursework, others enroll to get a solid review of the grade they just completed and to touch on the next grade, in order to be better prepared to start in the fall.
“It seems like every year, parents are wanting more and more for their kids to stay involved in academics over the summer,” said Shilling. “It’s very difficult for kids to take a full break from school over the summer and still retain everything they’ve learned throughout the previous school year. Our summer session helps them stay focused, and readies them for success in the Fall.”
What Students Can Accomplish During Summer Session
What’s more, Ingenuity’s summer session isn’t restricted to only Ingenuity students. The summer session has seen significant enrollment from students who attend other schools, such as Helix Charter High School and River Valley Charter High School, which do not offer summer sessions. Last summer, Ingenuity’s summer session served 334 students who completed over 600 credits.
Ingenuity also launched a resource center last year, located just a short walk from San Diego State University, where enrolled students meet in-person with instructors. There is easy access to the center, with a bus stop and trolley stop nearby, giving all San Diego-area students maximum accessibility to Ingenuity resources no matter where they live.
Furthermore, Ingenuity summer session students have access to more than just academics.
“Students in summer session are also able to complete one or two semesters of independent Phys Ed study through learning and practicing volleyball and basketball skills,” said Charity Harang, blended learning instructor at Ingenuity. “We also offer the popular driver’s education elective through our Schoology platform; once completed, students are eligible to take their permit test at the DMV.”
Another major benefit of Ingenuity’s summer session is that students can leave as soon as they’ve completed their summer work. In traditional summer sessions, students must remain in attendance for the entirety of the session – but that’s not the case at Ingenuity. “One unique feature of our summer session is that students may disenroll from it once they have completed their coursework,” said Harang. “It works to their benefit to complete assignments as quickly as possible if they would like to enjoy summer break.”
With its wide accessibility and many benefits, Ingenuity Charter School’s summer session is an outstanding option for any grade 6-12 student who is looking to ensure his or her continued scholastic success.