Posted at: 07/26/2012 4:35 PM
Updated at: 07/26/2012 5:14 PM
By: Dan Conradt

Print Story  Email to a Friend

Sumner School in Austin Set to Re-Open

(ABC 6 News) -- The calendar still says July, but the new school year will be here before you know it. For some students in our area, the countdown has gone from days to hours.

"Once you get rolling again, it's just a day on a calendar," said Sumner elementary school principal Sheila Berger.

And come Tuesday, the Sumner Stars go back to school. Last year, Sumner became Austin's first year-round school, and on Thursday the school hosted its back-to-school open house.

"I'm doing Link Crew,” fifth grader McKenzie Elit explained, “I have to help people who just came here and i have to show them their classroom."

Year-round school at Sumner means a schedule of 45 days on, then 15 days off. and when the second year of that schedule begins on Tuesday:

"Our numbers are very similar to where we ended last year, about 260 is where we're at," said principal Berger.

“This 45-15 calendar is not for teachers or staff, it's for the benefit of the children," said Sumner success coach Enrique Camarena Corzo.

And after one year, there does seem to be a benefit.

"Our initial projections, because we did computer testing in math, look very very good. We had significant increases in the number of students who met proficiency," said principal Berger.

"In Mexico we have that calendar, too, we have only one month and a half for vacation, and we see a lot of great results for students," added Corzo.

"I liked it a lot," said fifth grader McKenzie Elit, “because I got breaks instead of just staying in school."

And with more frequent but shorter breaks, there's less catch-up time when summer break ends.

"One of the things the teachers felt very strongly about was the kids were in gear and ready to roll," said Principal Berger

And Tuesday, it starts rolling again.

"We think your best chances of success are on this type of calendar," Principal Berger said.

Like last year, Sumner elementary school is facing a shortage of school supplies, since most organized drives are still going on. If you'd like to donate, contact the school.