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Summer Scholars: Hard Duty, High Reward
7/20/2017Check your common perceptions of summer school at the door. Because at Benson High School, the site of PPS’s Summer Scholars program, the sheer numbers, structure and atmosphere is not what you’d expect.
“We’ve got 1,500 students here, a staff of more than 100, and we’re using 50 classrooms,” says David Holm, vice principal and administrator of Summer Scholars. “We’re actually larger than most high schools.”
Summer Scholars is a tuition-based credit recovery program. It gives students who have fallen behind, or dropped out, a chance to catch back up and work toward their degree. While the students are primarily from PPS, many come in from surrounding Metro area districts, as do many of the teachers and staff.
And when the students show up, it’s ‘Go Time.’
“Once they get themselves here in the morning, we take over,” Holm says.
That begins with the morning greeting on the front steps of Benson. Holm and staff are there to greet the students. Counselor Adam Kennybrew blares music. “Adam sets the tone,” Holm says. “He really wakes the students up. We operate at a very fast pace here.”
Summer Scholars turns a regular 18-week semester into a 3-week academic boot camp.
“It’s a challenge that many of these students respond well to,” Holm says. “While I wouldn’t say they’re thrilled to be here, we do see a lot of smiles.”
Part of that is because of the compacted schedule. They arrive at 8:30 a.m. and are done by 12:15 p.m., with only one 15-minute break. Many take advantage of free breakfast and lunch, available before and after classes. Holm estimates that 80 percent get passing grades.
Summer Scholars encompasses a wide age range. The program will accept students up to age 21. Many students have been out of high school for more than a year. Admission priority is given to older students who need credit recovery to get back on track, but the program also has incoming freshman and current students seeking credit advancement as well.
The program runs two sessions each summer. Summer Scholars also has four special education instructors, four counselors, 15 tutors, and provides ESL services. All students get free TriMet passes.
At the end of each day, Holm, Kennybrew and the rest of the staff see the students off with high-fives and fist-bumps. “Eleven more days! Great job!” Holm can be heard as they file out of the building, each one closer to completing high school.
Counselor Adam Kennybrew brings an infectious enthusiasm and energy that lifts the Summer Scholars students up as they arrive and depart for the day.
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