TPS Summer School Program Offers Activities Meant To Build Relationships

About one third of Tulsa Public Schools students are enrolled in the district's new summer school program: "Ready. Set. Summer!"  

CARES Act funding is paying for the program, which involves more than learning in the classroom. Every school in the district is offering different activities for the month of July, so there is something for everyone.  

For the first time, the Medieval Fight Club at Memorial High is in action during the summer. The club is normally only available to students during the school year. With swords made out of foam, the students had pretend battles behind the school Wednesday. Heath Miller teaches Medieval History at Memorial.  

"They haven't had this opportunity and so now, the chance to get out here and be active and be engaged at your school setting - I think it's probably the most important thing we could be doing right now for the kids,” Miller said.  

Under the shade of the big tree in front of the school, an hour-long yoga class offered a moment of peace.  

"It was good, very relaxing,” student Paschion Owens said.  

There is a lot going on inside the school, too, where News On 6 cameras could not go because the district is not allowing visitors inside school buildings right now.   

"It is a busy summer,” Twanna Johnson said.  

Johnson is the school's social worker and helped choose which activities would be offered at Memorial for the summer program. Things like swimming, arts and crafts, leadership and even writing music are all options.  

Related Story: Enrollment Begins For Tulsa Public Schools' New Summer Program

She said most students are in summer school to make up their class credits, but some are just there for the new activities.  

"The focus is supposed to be relationship building and to ease students back into attending school in person in the fall,” Johnson said.  

Owens is meeting new friends at yoga and said since she did virtual learning throughout the pandemic, she is especially looking forward to starting her junior year this fall.  

“I wanted to come back, because I miss everyone,” Owens said.  

This year the district said 11,000 students signed up for summer school. TPS said there were about 5,000 students enrolled for summer school in 2019.