This summer marks a fresh start for South Huntington’s Summer School program. The district is launching a brand-new, in-house summer program that will be held at Stimson Middle School, run by our district’s administrators, and open to South Huntington middle school and high school students only. Two highly experienced South Huntington educators will lead the team. 

 

For the past decade, Western Suffolk BOCES has been in charge of running a large, multi-district summer school program, and using Stimson as the location. As many as 800 students from districts across Western Suffolk would attend the program in July and August, putting a lot of wear and tear on the middle school building with no summer down time for repairs and renovations. 

 

Ms. Amanda Kavanagh, South Huntington’s Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, Grades 7-12, says that’s been a driving force behind the change. “For many years, we’ve been hosting that larger program and haven’t had the summer cycle to make necessary facility updates. It puts a lot of stress on the building,” explained Ms. Kavanagh. While summer school will still be held at Stimson, the new, smaller program–with about 200-300 students–allows the district to confine classes to one section of Stimson, letting construction and cleaning crews update and renovate the rest of the building before the new school year begins. 

 

The district’s summer school program officially kicks off on July 6th and runs through August 13th, with Regents exams scheduled for August 18th and 19th. Classes will run from 7:00 AM until noon across three 90-minute periods. Students will be responsible for their own breakfast and lunch. Busing will be provided for all three morning periods, with return busing available after periods 1 and 2. Students attending the third (and final) period of the day will have to find their own transportation home. There is no cost to attend.

 

Students will find out after the 4th quarter marking period, ending on June 16th, if they need to take summer classes due to failed coursework. Summer school is also an opportunity for students to retake Regents exams they might have failed or to try for a higher grade.

 

The summer program is supported by a dedicated team of educators and support personnel, led by a Summer Principal and an Assistant Principal. Instructional staff includes 20 to 25 certified teachers, including South Huntington’s own faculty. To ensure a safe and well-managed environment, the team also features teacher aides, guidance counselors, and an attendance teacher. “We will also have support for our English language learners and students with disabilities to ensure everyone has access to what they need,” said Ms. Kavanagh.

 

South Huntington will also be using its own security personnel for the summer school program. “We expect about five people depending on enrollment,” explained Ms. Kavanagh. “Removing outside districts will likely reduce any security issues. Last year, we saw conflicts between in-district and out-of-district students. Using our own security and focusing on our own students will change that.”

 

Leading the new summer school team are Mr. Dylan Clifford, as Principal, and Ms. Danielle Rodrigues, as Assistant Principal. Mr. Clifford is South Huntington’s Chairperson of Special Education and Student Services. Ms. Rodrigues teaches ENL (English as a New Language)  science classes at Walt Whitman High School. They both bring more than a decade of teaching experience to their new roles. Interviews have been edited for clarity.

 

Q&A 

What do you think about the district launching this new Summer School program?

Mr. Clifford: I’m really excited and thankful to the district for the chance to start this new program. We hope it continues to serve students well for years to come. I look forward to tackling the challenges ahead with our staff.

Ms. Rodrigues:  I’m so glad the district put this program into play. It’s the first year, and we’re going to hit the ground running. I know it’s going to create a great connection with the community.

 

Why did you become a teacher?

Mr. Clifford:  I was pulled toward special education because of my upbringing. I had an aunt with a learning disability and epilepsy, and I saw her experience through the education system. I’ve seen how much things have changed over the years and how many more opportunities there are now for students with special needs. I gravitated toward serving that population and trying to bridge the gap in their abilities to get them prepared to be successful adults. I also had a mentor back in seventh grade—a physical education teacher who really took me under his wing, not only for sports but for character development. I really wanted to be like him.

Ms. Rodrigues:  I studied communications and got a job right out of school in 2006 in New York City doing public relations for a pharmaceutical department. But sitting in my cubicle, taking the 5:55 AM train and not getting home until 10:30 PM, I asked myself, “Who am I really helping?” It wasn't fulfilling. I wanted to touch young lives and give them a great foundation. It’s been very rewarding, especially working with the bilingual ENL population.

 

What will your prior experience bring to the Summer School program?

Mr. Clifford:  I’m already familiar with many of the students who will be in summer school. My experience in special education—understanding how to differentiate instruction, communicate differently, and identify strengths and weaknesses—is a skill I hope to pass on to the staff. It helps everyone become more empathetic toward the needs of the students.

Ms. Rodrigues:  I want to help students find their motivation, even if it’s as simple as not wanting to repeat the class next year. I set high expectations, which is something I want to bring into summer school. Rigor is important, but I also take a "whole student" approach. My students know I am invested in them as people. I want to help them find their potential and reach expectations they didn’t think they were capable of. As a bilingual administrator, I can also bridge the gap for families who want to help their kids but face a language barrier.

 

Best of luck to our staff, teachers, and students for a summer of rewarding growth and success as South Huntington launches this important new learning program!