MEDIA RELEASE

If you subtract 12 days from the 66-day “break” Waimea public school students will have this summer, you will still have 54 days of pure R&R for children and families … which makes Waimea Middle School’s summer “Jump Start” program this year all the more appealing to students and families.

For incoming 6th, 7th and 8th grade Waimea students, this year’s summer “Jump Start” will include 12 days with friends discovering and mastering essential middle school skills, including organizational techniques and life skills, basic computer programs and Ike Hawaii cultural lessons along with reading, writing, math and enrichment.

For families, it means their child will be better prepared to enter school come the start of the new year — Monday, July 30.

For families, it’s also a very affordable summer option as the entire program will cost only $50 per student, including busing morning and afternoon, breakfast and lunch daily in the school cafeteria, and classes. This fee will be waived for children eligible for free and reduced lunch. Also, Alu Like scholarships are available.

The program is being kept so reasonable to entice participation to help students progress academically, thanks to generous financial support from several community partners including WMS’ Local School Board.

Hookakoo Corporation, Kamehameha Schools, Alu Like and the Hawaii Office of Child Nutrition which receives federal summer school lunch funding.

Waimea Middle School incoming students will have priority placement for the 12-day program from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but students attending other schools for 6th, 7th or 8th grade next year will be accepted if space is available.

Students participating in the program will be required to wear WMS uniform T-shirts daily. Uniforms are not included in the $50 fee.

WMS “Jump Start” was launched five years ago – initially for incoming 6th graders — at the urging of WMS’ Local School Board — Hookakoo Corporation — to smooth the challenging transition into middle school, where students go from a generally single self-contained elementary classroom with one teacher to changing classrooms throughout the day with five or more different teachers.

It also was intended to build academic skills and help develop organizational techniques needed to have the right textbooks and homework completed at the right times and also learn to deal with the personal changes of adolescence.

Since then, “Jump Start” was expanded at the urging of families to help students progress academically and get them acclimated for the year ahead, while still leaving many weeks for summer vacation.

No classes will be held Friday, June 22 and Friday, June 29. Also, there will be no class July 4 in observation of Independence Day.

“Jump Start” applications have been sent home to all current Waimea Elementary School 5th grade families and all current WMS 6th and 7th grade families.

Applications also are available in the school office and are posted on the school’s website at www.WaimeaMiddleSchool.org

Deadline to register is May 16.

For incoming 6th grade families with a child currently in 5th grade, WMS will host its annual 6th Grade Family Orientation gathering from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, May 2 in the school cafeteria.

This is must for all incoming families as it will include a briefing on what it means to transition into middle school and what unique programs WMS offers including small class sizes, a high level of technology and hands-on, place-based learning integrated into core curriculum, Ike Hawaii and Malaai school garden experiences, Health/PE for all students, strong student supports for adolescents including Advisory, counselor staff and after-school programs including Homework Help, athletics, and K(Arts).

For more information, call Mary Martinson at 887-6090, Ext. 252.