By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
USD 428's summer school programs wrapped up at the end of June. Students in the Great Bend schools participated in Olympic-themed project-based learning ahead of the upcoming Summer Games in Paris. The Great Bend Fire Department closed out summer school programming at Riley Elementary with some cool water from high up on the ladder truck. District Director of Teaching and Learning JoAnn Blevins detailed summer participation to the USD 428 Board of Education Monday night.
"They say summer is supposed to be a little slower but not for the kids in Great Bend," she said. "They kept on learning and being active and that's pretty exciting. Another successful summer school is in the books. Now, we can gear up for August."
Two hundred and one elementary students completed 2,680 hours of reading and the same amount of science, and also had 2,010 hours of active play over the four weeks. Fifty-three high school and 79 middle school students participated in summer school. One hundred and seventy-eight students were enrolled in driver's education, and 150 middle and high school students are engaged in strength and conditioning training. In June, USD 428 served just shy of 38,000 meals.
The district's free summer lunch program will continue through July 19 at Eisenhower, Jefferson, and Riley schools. The program is offered 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, for anyone 18 years of age or younger.