<< Previous   of   Next >> Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) As her teacher helps a classmate, senior Beza Tesemma studies for her Integrated Math II class during summer school at Shorewood High School. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW  (click to enlarge) Incoming freshman Dagom Tesemma participates in a group discussion in his Summer Transition Enrichment Program (STEP), designed for incoming students, during summer school at Shorewood High School.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Students, summer and school

By Tony Dondero
Enterprise reporter

Beza Tesemma didn't pass her math class last school year.

“I just didn't go to the math class mostly because I couldn't understand the subject matter,” she said.

The 18-year-old senior-to-be at Shorewood High School, who immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia when she was 11, enrolled in summer school to retake the class.

“I wanted to make up a credit,” Tesemma said. “It's a lot easier because I can understand the teacher.”

Down the hall, her 15-year-old brother, Dagom, is in summer school for a different reason. Dagom Tesemma is enrolled in the Summer Transition and Enrichment Program (STEP), designed to help students transition from middle to high school.

“It's better to be here than being home doing nothing,” the boy said.

The siblings are among about 1,150 students spending part of their summer in classrooms across the Shoreline, Everett and Edmonds school districts. In Shoreline, summer school started July 7 and wraps up July 31.

Summer school is a time to catch up, get ahead, or prepare for high school.

Ann Torres, a vice principal at Shorewood, is in her second year of being in charge of the program and oversees a summer staff of 18 teachers.

“Historically, people think of summer school as something that's punitive or for credit recovery,” Torres said.

About half of students are catching up on credits, Torres estimated, but summer school is more than that.

Summer school is open to students who go to other private and public schools, including Edmonds-Woodway, Bishop Blanchet and Mountlake Terrace. Many students take advantage of the math offerings in particular, Torres said. There were wait lists for some of the integrated math classes, where teachers instruct students in algebra and geometry. Two new math classes were added as well.

“There's a lot of focus on math. That's what kids want,” Torres said.

Summer math classes are intense. At Shorewood, Tesemma said they're going through 10 chapters of material in a matter of weeks. Teens stand in the hallway during breaks and chat after intensive studying. They munch on muffins, doughnuts and other treats brought by Doris McConnell, a Shoreline city councilwoman.

In the STEP class, meanwhile, students learn time management, study skills and get instruction in math and English to help them prepare for high school life.

The class is about “helping you get organized and learn better,” said Angel Miranda, 15.

Dagom Tesemma said his parents wanted him to be in the class.

“It's really helpful. It's setting goals and sticking to them,” he said. “What matters most is that you show up and do the work. That doesn't seem too hard.”

“Their eagerness to do well, you can see that,” teacher Brent Busby said.

In Shoreline, about 500 students are enrolled in summer school district wide. The district also offers summer school for grades one through eight at Einstein Middle School.

In Edmonds, about 174 students are enrolled in summer school.

In Everett, nearly 475 students are in the district's summer program but overall enrollment is down. Sequoia, the alternative high school, hosts summer school for all the district high schools, including Henry M. Jackson in Mill Creek.

Districts also offer online programs.

Summer school isn't free. In Shoreline, the tuition is $275 per half-credit class. In Edmonds, the cost is $200 per half-credit. Everett charges $275 for early registrants and $325 for late registrants.

Scholarship money is also available through school supporters, such as the Shoreline Education Foundation.