SKILLS (Optional)

ENRICHMENT

CREDIT

Skills classes supplement the Enrichment program in teaching the kinds of skills necessary to perform well in school.

Enrichment courses give students the opportunity to explore new fields and prepare for future studies. Participants in this program receive narrative evaluations but no grades or credits.

The credit program offers high school courses approved by the Texas Education Agency through Spring Branch ISD. Grades are given for each course and may become a part of the student's overall grade point average.

Hours

8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

9:00 AM - 11:50 AM

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Eligibility

Students must be enrolled in the Enrichment program in order to enroll in a skills class.

Students who are entering grades 8 through 12 in the Fall of 2009 are eligible. Students entering grade 7 may be accepted with a letter of recommendation from a current teacher submitted with the application.

Open to 9th through 12th grade students. Students who enroll in a credit course must have taken the prerequisites listed for each course and not previously have taken the course. Students may not audit a credit course.

Dates

Dates have not been determined for 2009

Courses Offered

Students work in small groups developing and using thinking, problem-solving, and processing skills.

Courses are offered in Art, English, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science and Social Studies.

Credit courses are offered in Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Cost

No additional cost over the price of the enrichment program.

The total for all three enrichment courses and the optional skills course was $750 in 2008 - Costs have not been determined for 2009. Occasionally field trip fees are collected after classes have begun.

The total for a credit course was $800 in 2008 - Costs have not been determined for 2009 - plus the cost of the textbook for one full year credit. There will be an additional Chemistry I lab fee.

Work Load

The skills program consists of one, 50 minute course, held Monday through Friday. Many courses require some work outside of class.

The enrichment program consists of three courses that last 50 minutes each, held Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM through 11:50 AM with 10-minute breaks between classes. Many classes require some work outside class. All students should be prepared to do homework in Summer School.

Classes will be held at St. John's School, 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019. Credit courses are very demanding academically, and require substantial preparation time outside of class. Students are advised to limit outside activities during the six-week period that they are in the Summer School.

Attendance

Consistent attendance is required even though no grades are given. It is the Summer School’s policy to notify parents of unexcused absences. Any student who is absent ten days will be dropped from the program and will not receive a narrative assessment.

Perfect attendance is required. Any absence may cause serious difficulty. Students who have three absences during the six-week session will not earn credit and will be withdrawn from the program. Tardiness of fifteen minutes or more counts as an absence; three shorter tardies also count as an absence.

Faculty

Classes are designed and taught by mentor teachers and assisted by student teachers.

Rice University student teachers, under close supervision of mentor teachers from the Houston area, teach most of the enrichment courses. Mentor teachers themselves teach some enrichment and all skills courses.

Certified, experienced teachers, selected jointly by Rice University and the Spring Branch Independent School District, teach credit classes.

Evaluation/Grade Report

Parents receive a written report describing the performance of each student in each class, noting particular strengths the student showed and recommendations for future growth. Unless otherwise requested, the student’s school (listed on the application) will also receive a copy of the report.

Grade reports for credit courses are issued at the end of the third week and at the end of the course. Upon completion of the course the final grade is mailed to students’ parents and transferred to the high school listed on the application.

Drops

Any student who is absent ten days will be dropped from the program and will not receive a narrative assessment.

If a student withdraws by (date has not been determined for 2009) only the withdrawal date will be reported to the school. Withdrawals after that date will be reported as Withdraw/Fail. Withdrawals require a parent or guardian’s written authorization.

Admission Policy. Students are accepted and courses are assigned in the order in which applications are received for all programs.

CREDIT. Costs for the Credit classes and the application procedure have not yet been determined for 2009.

ENRICHMENT.Costs for the Enrichment classes have not been determined for 2009.

CANCELLATION: All courses are subject to cancellation for insufficient enrollment. If this occurs, we will contact you by phone as soon as we can following our cancellation decision so you can enroll in another course that is available.

Payment and Refunds. Payment must accompany the application in order to be processed.

Disability Accommodations. We make every effort to provide reasonable disability accommodations to our participants. If you require any disability accommodations, please notify us in writing at the time of registration. Some older buildings are not fully wheelchair accessible. Disability documentation may be required.