{"id":35467,"date":"2025-09-06T18:53:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T18:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/?p=35467"},"modified":"2025-10-06T17:07:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T17:07:13","slug":"summer-programs-support-student-learning-and-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/?p=35467","title":{"rendered":"Summer Programs Support Student Learning and Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Fifteen multilingual learners (MLs) in grades K-5 participated in this year\u2019s ML Summer Experience, a two-week enrichment program designed to support English language acquisition through engaging, hands-on activities. Held from July 7-18, the Westfield Public School District\u2019s program was themed \u201cJourney Through the Stars\u201d and guided students through a fun exploration of planets and the solar system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fifteen multilingual learners (MLs) in grades K-5 participated in this year\u2019s ML Summer Experience, a two-week enrichment program designed to support English language acquisition through engaging, hands-on activities. Held from July 7-18, the Westfield Public School District\u2019s program was themed \u201cJourney Through the Stars\u201d and guided students through a fun exploration of planets and the solar system, blending science-based learning with literacy and language development.<\/p>\n

The program, which welcomed students whose native languages included Chinese, Hindi, Konkani, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian, offered a supportive environment where students can strengthen their English skills while building confidence and friendships.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus is on helping students make meaningful connections between language and real-life experiences,\u201d says Enrique Pincay, K-12 World Languages and ML Supervisor. \u201cThe ML Summer Experience is about learning through joy, exploration, and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pincay credits the program advisors Jillian Martinez and Megan McCusker for designing creative and student-centered lessons that spark curiosity and make learning memorable. \u201cIt\u2019s always great to see our students arrive each day eager to learn and have fun,\u201d he adds. \u201cWe are grateful to the families who take advantage of this immersive program tailored for multilingual learners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, the district\u2019s Extended School Year (ESY) program continues to provide critical support for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), helping prevent regression and preparing them for the upcoming school year. This summer, 124 students are enrolled in ESY \u2014 102 in grades PreK through 5 at Wilson Elementary School, and 22 in grades 6 through 12 at Westfield High School.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cESY is designed to reinforce important academic and related skills in a structured, supportive environment,\u201d says ESY Supervisor Julia Torres. \u201cWe want to help students retain what they\u2019ve learned and build confidence as they transition to the next grade.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to reinforcing reading, writing, and math skills aligned with each student\u2019s IEP, the program offers specialized instruction such as Wilson Reading and services like speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Students also participate in social-emotional learning opportunities, including a weekly Peaceful Playground program that promotes cooperation, problem-solving, and positive play.<\/p>\n

Special activities this summer include visits from therapy dogs, yoga sessions, and even basketball with Westfield High School coaches \u2014 all aimed at creating a well-rounded, engaging experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so proud of the teachers and paraprofessionals who make this program so meaningful,\u201d Torres says. \u201cOur hope is that students leave ESY feeling prepared, supported, and excited for the year ahead.\u201d
\nThe ESY program runs from July 1 through August 5<\/p>\n

\n

The Westfield Public School District\u2019s Extended School Year (ESY) program continues to provide critical support for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), helping prevent regression and preparing them for the upcoming school year.<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Photo Credit: Westfield Public Schools<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fifteen multilingual learners (MLs) in grades K-5 participated in this year\u2019s ML Summer Experience, a two-week enrichment program designed to support English language acquisition through engaging, hands-on activities. Held from July 7-18, the Westfield Public School District\u2019s program was themed \u201cJourney Through the Stars\u201d and guided students through a fun exploration of planets and the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":35473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[139,151],"tags":[],"post_flags":[],"class_list":["post-35467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-feature","category-westfield-local"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35467"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35548,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35467\/revisions\/35548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35467"},{"taxonomy":"post_flag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.localmedianj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpost_flags&post=35467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}