Post from Community: Summer learning will Be productive and joyful at Seeds of Health Schools: Infusing joy into summer learning at Seeds of Health | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Seeds of Health
April 26, 2021
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Seeds of Health (SOH) Schools know that the pandemic has taken a toll on its students, as well as students around the world. In addition to the social & emotional effects of the pandemic, students have been on a COVID-induced roller coaster ride navigating virtual, hybrid, and in-person learning. On a positive note, SOH knows this ride has taught students valuable 21st Century technology skills and an entirely new vocabulary and mindset when it comes to virtual learning. However, students have suffered a lag in learning.  SOH is determined to address this lag with a lineup of innovative summer classes that promise to do more than just catch students up. Seeds of Health plans to use summer courses to infuse more JOY into learning.
Seeds of Health Executive Director Marcia Spector states, “The pandemic has affected all of us in ways we can’t imagine.  While our children are very resilient, it has been very difficult for them to understand and deal with all that has happened in our world and in their personal lives. At Seeds of Health, we have created a summer learning experience that not only addresses the gaps in education but also addresses the social and emotional needs of our students. This summer, we’re offering our students many unique opportunities to learn, and we want those experiences to be joyful. Our students need and deserve that.”
A Summer Class Lineup with Something for Everyone
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Students from Seeds of Health Schools (Tenor High Schools, Veritas High School, and Seeds of Health Elementary) can choose courses designed to target physical, social, emotional, and academic growth as well as classes for credit recovery. As the course guide title suggests, the variety of courses won’t be a typical summer selection. The Learning in Concert, Summer 2021 Catalogue is full of enriching, interesting, and stimulating courses designed to address gaps in learning while students partake in non-traditional classes that offer children a chance to explore areas of interest.
Many Options for Seeds of Health Elementary Students
Seeds of Health Elementary (SOHE) students will participate in grade-level reading and math courses and have options for additional learning activities, to be scheduled between June 21 and July 29.
The basics (math and reading) will be covered, but in fun and innovative ways through courses like Math is As Easy As 1-2-3, Reading is Foundational, or Read to Succeed. Younger elementary students can sharpen reading skills in the Adventures with Picture Books; 3rd-5th graders might like to explore the Graphic Novels class; and older students might enjoy the Author Study class where they study a book and its author, and then meet the author online. Hands-on classes like Let’s Go with LEGOS! or LEGO Robotics combine learning opportunities with life skills and fun. Other courses like Sports in Action and Tae Kwon Do aim to help students get moving. In addition, kids will have the opportunity to learn self-care tips for overall well-being.
Credit Recovery and More for High School Students
At both Tenor High School campuses and Veritas High School, students will be able to choose from a variety of summer activities that extend and enrich student learning beyond the traditional school term. Students who have failed classes have the opportunity to earn credits back through summer credit recovery classes.
In addition to those opportunities, each high school has its own unique lineup of courses that allow students to enrich their skills while exploring areas of interest that may help guide them on career paths.  Highlights include Career Interest Science, Science (Terraforming Mars), English- Explore the City You Live In, Social Studies (American History Through Film), Math (Building Life Skills through Math), and Debunking Conspiracy Theories. These classes give students the chance to explore content areas in a new way. There are also great non-traditional offerings like Ecology Club, Nature and Writing, Summer Fitness, Upcycling, or Photography.
The Mission of Seeds of Health Doesn’t Stop in the Summer
Time and again, Seeds of Health has proven that nothing will get in the way of its mission – “To meet the unique needs of urban children through small schools in a caring, personal environment.” Seeds of Health Schools have found innovative ways to address their students’ needs during the pandemic and will continue to do so moving forward, thanks to innovative programs like their Seeds of Health Learning in Concert Series for the Summer of 2021. For more information about the Learning in Concert Summer Learning at Seeds of Health Schools, contact Assistant Executive Director Jodi Weber at 414-390-0830.
About Seeds of Health, Inc.
Founded in 1983, Seeds of Health, Inc. is the only K4-12 charter school agency in the state of Wisconsin serving approximately 1,300 students in three high schools with a total of four locations and a K4-8 elementary program. The individual and unique education programs at each Seeds of Health school serve a broad range of student needs – from at-risk to the college-bound. Seeds of Health is Milwaukee’s innovative “homegrown” answer to imaginative, collaborative, and cutting-edge education options, with the vision to positively impact the growth and development of urban children. Tenor High School, a program of Seeds of Health, is a high-performing charter school authorized by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM).  For more information, please visit www.seedsofhealth.org.