Students and Teachers Work Overtime at Apple Valley's Cedar Park Elementary

While many people were sleeping in on Saturday mornings this winter and spring, students, parents and teachers at in Apple Valley worked overtime.

Through an extracurricular program Principal John Garcia dubbed “Saturday School," Cedar Park and District 196’s Community Education Adult Basic Education have worked to improve literacy skills among English Language Learners.

About a quarter of Cedar Park’s students are ELL, Garcia said. The 12-week Saturday School, which will hold its last session this Saturday, was meant to improve proficiency in the only area in which the school has yet to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress, as dictated by the federal No Child Left Behind act.

“We know that literacy is the key determining factor for success, so we targeted students that we believed would benefit,” Garcia said.

Fifteen teachers rotated each week to teach the extra school session. An average of 42 students were divided by grade for two hours of reading, writing and speaking lessons.

Cedar Park teacher Ann Bernard, who shared a third and fourth grade group, said the effect on the students is evident.

“The kids are engaged, eager, vocal and participate,” Bernard said. “We have built a core group with good discussions, interesting thinking and response.

“Our kids share more in our small group setting and are more engaged.”

Bernard said she hasn’t seen any resistance or fatigue from students during the extension of their school week. Instead, “the students look forward to coming every week,” she said.

While the true test of Saturday School could come as the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment standardized tests are administered this month, Bernard and Garcia are confident that Saturday School is already making an impact, even beyond test scores.

Beyond students, parents are invited on Saturdays as well, Garcia said.

“We wanted to make it a collaborative community feel, with parents feeling not only accepted, but truly creating a partnership with the school and the parents,” Garcia said.

With about 42 kids and 30 adults each Saturday, Garcia said the community-building is evident. Parents, who are given English language instruction in addition to information on local outreach programs, seem to feel more connected to the school and community, he said.

In March, ABE held an informational fair where local organizations like the YMCA, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, and Apple Valley Police Department set up stations for parents and children to learn more about them. With events like this, Saturday School becomes “a very nice opportunity to bridge culturally,” Garcia said.

But there’s still room for improvement.

“The biggest challenge is simply getting consistent attendance,” Bernard said.

Next year, Garcia said he’ll look at holding Saturday School during another time of year so snowy winter commutes don’t discourage attendance. He also said broadening the curriculum and offering open gym time are possibilities.

“My philosophy is that a school should be used every day,” Garcia said, “and the families would agree it’s a great investment.”