The Maplewood Richmond Heights Summer Journey operates daily beginning June 7 and ending on June 30, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Dear Guardians,

This summer our district will offer - free of charge - a fun, exciting and academic approach to learning called Summer Journey for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Make no mistake about it, not only will our summer program be FUN for kids, it will also provide an opportunity for students to experience over 60 hours of academics during the summer months. This academic time will give students the chance to review and apply previously learned skills and knowledge as well as prepare for the school year ahead.

Summer Journey’s extraordinary educational goals comprise academic courses with hands-on instruction centered on reading, language arts, math and social studies or science. Other fields of study are also available. While the academic courses will be relaxed in format—no homework or tests for grades—Summer Journey will also offer courses for hands-on exploration and discovery. Summer Journey courses may include a rocket class, where students learn the basic principles of flight as they construct and fly real rockets, or a cooking course, where they learn basic food preparation techniques. Other courses that may be offered include Simple Machines Camp, designed to introduce students to elements of engineering, Live Well, and Lifetime Sports, designed to develop the body and encourage a lifetime of fitness. These are only samples of the courses that may be offered.

If you are the parent of a child who will be entering Kindergarten in fall 2023, I strongly encourage you to consider enrolling your child in Summer Journey. We have noticed that when these young students meet their teachers, fellow students, and our staff during the summer, they are eager to return in the fall and find that “first day of school” experience to be a positive one.

Who should apply for Summer Journey? Everyone. However, spots may be limited. Look at the information enclosed and apply by April 17. You'll be glad you did!

Sincerely,

Dr. Craig Maxwell, Summer School Coordinator

314-446-3931

When you are ready to register, click this link or simply scan the QR Code below and complete the online enrollment form.

 

April 7: Registration opens

April 17: Deadline for first round of enrollment for Summer Journey

April 24: Notifications of enrollment or waitlist status sent home

May 22: Notifications of bus route availability set home

May 22: Notification of homeroom teacher and drop off/pick-up procedures

June 7: First day of Summer Journey

What is the Summer Journey program?                   

The Maplewood Richmond Heights Summer Journey is an extended learning summer program operated to provide a world-class educational experience for district students.

How has the summer program changed from previous years?

In previous years there was an enrichment program AND a summer academy program.  This year we are combining these programs into one exciting and engaging program. This is what we call the “Core + Explore” approach. Students will take both core content classes and enrichment (“Journey”) classes throughout the day (see sample schedule below). Students will move from course to course and possibly from teacher to teacher. This means that students will not need to choose which courses to take. All students will get the whole program of the Summer Journey engaging curriculum.

What does the program cost parents?

The programming is free to all students.

When will the program be held?

The Maplewood Richmond Heights Summer Journey operates daily beginning June 7 and ending on June 30, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Does my child need to attend all days of the summer program? 

No, you will still be able to enroll for one, two, three or four weeks of summer school. And while the Summer Journey program is designed for students to attend all day, we may have some spaces available for those that can only attend the morning or afternoon.

Must my child attend every hour of the program in order to receive credit for the Summer Journey program?

No. It is assumed that students may have vacations or camps planned. While prizes for good attendance are available to students, a child’s occasional absence should not deter parents from enrolling their children in the program.

Will transportation be provided to and from the program?

Yes, transportation will be provided for those student families who qualify for transportation during the regular school year. However, bus routes will be limited and may vary from routes during the regular school year. Transportation information will be sent to those families who require transportation as soon as the plan becomes available.

When will I know if my child gets in?

Registration will run from April 7-17. Families who complete the registration form by April 17 will be notified by April 24 if their child is enrolled or placed on the waitlist.

What will my child(ren) do each day?

In the morning, Elementary and Middle School Summer Journey students will attend exciting academic classes where they may read interesting adventure stories, play language arts games and/or use technology to solve math mysteries. A typical schedule would include four morning classes of Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics and Science or Social Studies. After lunch, students will explore three fun-filled courses for the first half of the program, followed by three different courses in the last half.

How does the incentive program work?

Many students will win daily incentives for their efforts through a daily drawing or some similar format established by the summer site. Your student is also eligible to receive one of the following incentives for their Summer Journey attendance:

• 0 hours missed = $60 gift card

• 0 - 7 hours missed = $45 gift card

• 7 - 14 hours missed = $30 gift card

Will breakfast and lunch be served each day?

Yes, students will be served lunches using the same systems used during the regular school term.  As a result, students should plan to purchase meals (or bring lunch) in the same way they do during the regular school year.

How do I enroll my child for Summer Journey?

Click this link or simply scan the QR Code below and complete the online enrollment form. 

Attendance Incentives

Student incentives are dependent on attendance.

$60 Shopping Card

Perfect attendance - 0 hours missed

$45 Shopping Card

Up to 7 hours* missed

$30 Shopping Card

Over 7 hours, up to 14 hours* missed

* 7 hours is the equivalent of one day missed.

*14 hours is the equivalent of two days missed.

Gift cards can be used in the local stores or malls. The attendance incentives are contingent on actual (full-day) attendance in the Summer Journey™ program.

Daily Incentives

Daily incentives will be awarded to students on the basis of good attitude and achievement as determined by each site.

 

Maplewood Richmond Heights Summer Journey™ Programming

All Academic Courses (Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, Science and/or Social Studies) are offered during morning sessions. All Journey Courses are offered during afternoon sessions. Students participate in Journey courses for two-week blocks, enabling every student to participate in six Journey courses.

Kindergarten course description (students entering K in the Fall)

• Let’s Go Visiting

Students visit and explore fascinating places in a child’s world during the weekly mini-units Let’s Visit the Garden, Let’s Visit the Zoo, Let’s Visit the Farm, and Let’s Visit the Aquarium. Building on students’ prior knowledge, engaging, theme-related activities foster early learning concepts and skills, such as letter and sound recognition, phonemic awareness, sorting, and counting. Games, manipulatives, literature response, and writing activities inspire active learning while integrated science and social studies concepts support meaningful learning connections and nurture students’ natural curiosity.

• Camp K 

In the afternoon portion of the Kindergarten day, students head to their campsite for quiet time as they rest and listen to the sounds of nature. Then they hit the trail to explore concepts about camping and nature through theme-related and physical movement activities. During Backpack Activity Stations, students develop cooperation skills as they investigate manipulatives and create art. From examining wildlife tracks to sharing campfire stories, young campers enjoy their adventures at Camp K.

Primary course description (students entering grades 1, 2, 3 in the Fall)

BrickLAB: Zoo Camp                             Field Day Primary

Local Performance                                Movement and Rhythm

Tech Lab                                                The Science of Super Powers

Elementary course description (students entering grades 4 & 5 in the Fall)

BrickLAB Build a Better World               Claymation

Field Day Junior                                     Music to Our Ears

Traveling Artist                                       What's Cooking?

Intermediate (students entering grades 6−8 in the Fall)

3-D Art Camp                                          All for One

Blocksmith Camp                                    Flying Disc Camp

Survivor Camp                                        Structural Design

 

The Maplewood Richmond Heights Summer Journey operates daily beginning June 7 and ending on June 30, 2023, from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Changes will be announced.

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