Sumner, Woodson’s year-round classes start new year next week

Students at Sumner Elementary School and Woodson Kindergarten Center are sharpening their pencils and gathering their school supplies in preparation for the upcoming school year, which begins Tuesday for students on the year-round schedule.

Both schools are on their third year of the schedule, which means they will have to reapply for and review the program this year. All indications point toward renewing the waiver, said Sheila Berger, principal of Sumner.

“It lessens the summer flat students have,” Berger said.

The first break of the school year for these students is on Sept. 30 and will last for three weeks. Staff and students seem to enjoy the breaks, Berger said.

“We are able to get into the heart of the curriculum much more quickly,” Berger said. “It keeps kids engaged.”

Jessica Cabeen, principal of Woodson, is also getting positive feedback from both parents and staff members.

“Parents appreciated that we’re accommodating the Sumner schedule,” Cabeen said. “Teachers appreciate the jump start in August.”

Sumner expects the enrollment to be around 225 students this year, which is less than the previous year because fifth graders have moved to the new I.J. Holton Intermediate School. Woodson will have two classes with approximately 40-45 students on the year-round schedule, which is about the same as before.

Both schools will also offer sessions during the first two weeks of the fall and spring breaks for students who are struggling or need additional help.

Changes for Sumner this year include new school day hours and a complete remodel of a portion of their playground. The new school day will begin 10 minutes earlier and end 10 minutes earlier compared to last year, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to another great start to the year,” Cabeen said.

 

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Sumner’s daily schedule would be 10 minutes shorter than last year. In fact, the earlier start and end times will not shorten the day. The Herald regrets this error.