Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 2, 1993 TAG: 9308020082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY W. BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Lately, however, more and more students are opting to sacrifice their vacation and enroll in summer school to get ahead in their studies, not because they're behind.
"We have more students getting ahead than repeating," said Sherwood Kasey, principal of Roanoke's summer high school at William Fleming. "Ninety-five percent or more are here for advancement."
About 507 area high schoolers - slightly fewer than last year - are enrolled this summer in 14 different city summer classes, including English, algebra, biology and government. Summer school runs for 28 days, ending Friday. Classes are offered for both remedial students and those trying to get ahead.
"They're not here because someone pushed them. They want to be here," Haifa Alzubaidi, who teaches summer school geometry, said of students trying to get ahead. "I'm having better grades because they're having the time to do the work."
"We try to promote success," Kasey said. "Since they're in the classrooms for five hours, they get more hands-on experience."
Lonnie Bishop, who transferred to Patrick Henry High School from New York this spring, said going to summer school will allow him to graduate a semester early and enter military service.
"I `wasted' my summer so I could get my classes," Bishop said. "I'm just looking ahead so I can get my career started."
While many students balk at spending their vacation days in the classroom, Samantha Christian, a rising senior at Fleming, said, "It's worth it. I wanted to take it so I could take my music classes."
"Next year I won't have so much to do. It's my senior year," said Stephen Penn, who's taking a Virginia and U.S. government class with Bishop and Christian. "It also keeps you from trouble and gives you credit while you're here."
Kasey, whose daughter is in summer school, said focusing on only one subject is helpful to the student. "She can concentrate on one subject on a daily basis. It makes it easier and she can remember more. It helps a lot of students."
Alzubaidi's geometry class is a mixture of students trying to get early credits and those repeating the class to get a higher grade.
"I wanted to be in Governor's School next year and geometry is one of the requirements." said Tascha Campbell, a rising sophomore at Patrick Henry. "But it's kind of hard to stay focused and awake in class."
Ayo Smith, a junior at Fleming, did not have to take geometry, but he said doing so will leave his options open as he plans his career.
"I didn't want to be behind and mess my schedule up in my senior year. I could have stopped at algebra I because I wanted to be a nurse, but I'm taking it anyway," Smith said.
Irving Hampton Kier III, who graduated from Fleming in June, enrolled in summer school this year before he enters college. He said he needed to boost his grade-point average for his football scholarship to Virginia State University.
"I found out a day before summer school started," he said. "A coach [at football camp] told me I could take a core class to get my G.P.A. up."
The most popular summer class is gym, which was held for three weeks during the first half of the summer. Nearly 160 students from the city - as well as other districts such as Salem, Roanoke County and Montgomery County - were enrolled in physical education this year, making it, by far, the largest class.
"It's not like school," said Brandy Jernigan, a rising sophomore at Fleming. "It's more like summer camp for all the things we do."
Instead of engaging in the routine physical education activities held during the regular school year (read: flag football), students in summer school play golf, swim, bowl and hike, among other things.
"In school you're tested on everything, and all you do is go over recreational sports," Jernigan said. "Here we go places. It's a lot easier . . . and it's a lot better than getting all sweaty and going through school."
Summer school gym meets state requirements by conducting physical fitness tests during the first few days.
According to city summer school Director David Partington, many students take gym because they can get ahead in their credits. They then have time for electives, such as computer or dance classes, during the rest of the year.
Also, summer gym offers activities some of the students may not be used to.
"Only about 10 of the students in the class are repeating the course," Partington said.
The gym classes get some students by positive word-of-mouth.
"I had older friends who told me it was fun," said Connor Lancaster, a rising ninth-grader at Patrick Henry. "If you want to get gym out the way, this is what you should do. I definitely recommend it because it's a lot better."
"Word has gotten out that we have excellent activities the kids can enjoy," said Keith Smith, one of the four summer gym teachers.
The number of students in summer gym has been going up steady in the past few years, Partington said. This year was one of the biggest enrollments, he said, but a lot fewer students signed up for the health class, which is held during the second half of summer school.
Smith, who teaches at Fleming during the rest of the year, added that the gym class concentrates on "lifetime sports" - activities the students can continue later in life.
"This gives them the opportunity to be involved in other activities that wouldn't be available in a 50-minute class," said Smith, who has taught summer gym for eight years.
Art Thompson, another of the teachers, said one advantage of summer gym is the length of the class each day.
"When you get to spend that time with people, you get to know them," he said.
Thompson, who teaches during the year at Breckenridge Middle School, confesses he prefers summer school to the regular year because "the people want to be here."
Thompson said he isn't aware of similar programs in other school systems. Many students come to Roanoke for summer school as a result, he said.
"It's difficult for a lot of students to be athletic . . . so we offer an alternative to keep them active through their lifetime," Thompson said. "When you teach them young, it stays with them."
Thompson, who has taught summer gym for 15 years, said the fun part of his job is watching students who say they cannot do some of the activities grow during the summer.
"At the end of the summer they find themselves," he said. "They find self-esteem."
by CNB