Summer Learning – Grants provide academic and enrichment programs for KCSD students

Mazama High School student Danny Barajas spent Tuesday and Wednesday preparing and painting the school’s softball benches. Last week, he and his classmates from the school’s summer manufacturing enrichment program learned how to assemble tables and cabinets, and next week’s program includes welding and building a shed.

Danny, an honors student, is taking advantage of the opportunity to attend summer school to earn credits toward graduation. “It’s definitely worth it. I’m learning a lot of skills,” he said.

For the first time, several Klamath County School District high schools are offering credit-based enrichment programs funded by state summer school grants. The grants also cover summer literacy programs for prekindergarten through sixth graders, as well as summer schools for migrants. Academic recovery classes are offered at Falcon Heights.

In total, hundreds of students from across the district participate in the summer school program.

At Mazama, 12 certified teachers offer six credit-bearing classes—automotive, manufacturing, fine art, local history, health/nutrition studies, and plant science. Eighty students have signed up for the four-week program, which includes hands-on projects and field trips.

Cheyanne McFarland, who will be in her third year of the honors program in the fall, is taking a health science/nutrition course to get a head start on her credits. On Tuesday, the class was finalizing designs, menus and business plans for their food trucks after visiting and researching similar businesses in the city.

Cheyanne’s food truck would be called Poplers, serving made-to-order sodas. Classmate Parker Whiteley, a senior, decided to open a food truck called Boasting Bao, serving traditional and fusion-style baos, or Asian dumplings.

In plant science, students completed terrariums and planned work in the school greenhouse. Their goal for the course: to design a dream garden, determine what plants to use and what features, and create a budget and plan. The course includes identifying and caring for plants.

Fine arts students on Tuesday created what teacher KrashFreeman called “narrative craft through drama.” One group created by building worlds using the game Dungeons and Dragons. The class aims to produce and publish a Zine, a magazine of articles, stories and art. Students also attended a writing workshop at Southern Oregon University in Ashland and participated in a three-person musical production of “Lizard Boy.”

Mazama School Vice Principal Sergio Cisneros and CTE Coordinator Anna Monteil are spearheading the summer program. Cisneros said he enjoys the hands-on, project-based learning.

“It’s full circle,” he said. “Students learn valuable skills while completing projects that allow them to take pride in their work and, in some cases, improve their school campus.”

Cheyanne McFarland, a senior at Mazama High, is taking a health and nutrition class this summer. During the class, students are coming up with plans for a food truck. Cheyanne is planning one that will serve made-to-order sodas.

Mazama High School botany students pose with their recently completed terrariums.

A student in the summer manufacturing program at Mazama prepares a concession stand near the softball fields for repainting.