District 202 Helping Students Maintain Skills Over Summer

• Photo: District 202 Extended School Year or ESY student Erik Pruell holds a toy bird named Pajaro while listening to Plainfield Youth Services Librarian Sue Parsons read “I’m a Dirty Dinosaur” during sensory story time at Liberty Elementary School on June 28, 2016. Parsons visits ESY students during the summer at several District 202 schools. The ESY program helps students retain skills during the summer break so they are better prepared for the new school year.

Plainfield, IL — Erik Prull sat mesmerized by the plastic toy bird named Pajaro perched on his fingertip.

Sue Parsons, Youth Services Librarian at the Plainfield Public Library, encouraged Prull to gently slide Pajaro to the finger of the girl next to him.

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And down the line of Extended School Year or ESY students Pajaro went, lighting up the students’ faces at Liberty Elementary School during sensory story time on June 28, 2016.

The bird, whose name is Spanish for “parrot,” is always a big hit during Parsons’ visits to the schools during the ESY program.

Pajaro’s appearance was just one of many special activities conducted for District 202’s ESY students. District 202 runs the six-week ESY program each summer. This year the program is at Liberty, John F. Kennedy Middle School and Bonnie McBeth Learning Center.

For students who qualify, the ESY program offers learning opportunities for students to maintain skills during the summer break said Cheril Phillips, Director of Elementary Student Services and the ESY program.

“The hope is that students will participate in fun and motivating activities while continuing to maintain their current skills,” said Mina Griffith Assistant Superintendent for Student Services.

Successful ESY students also will spend less time reviewing last year’s material and be able to focus on new material at the beginning of the new school year, Griffith said.

The benefits of ESY extend beyond students to site supervisors and teachers.

Christina Lotfi is in her second year running the program as the site supervisor at Bonnie McBeth. She is a special education teacher at Plainfield East High School during the school year.

Lotfi said ESY gives her the chance to work with younger students and extend her reach into the school community.

“ESY is a great opportunity for new administrators to gain valuable leadership experience,” Griffith said.

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202