Libertyville District 70 plans summer school

Although the winter chill has started to set in, planning is under way for the popular Libertyville Elementary District 70 summer school session.

Summer school for 2012 will be from June 11 to July 12, Monday through Thursday, at Highland Middle School, 310 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville. Busing will be available for students. School hours remain 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.

“There are no major changes,” Kerri Bongle, summer school director and assistant principal at Highland Middle School, told the board of education during a recent meeting.

Summer school classes will once again be posted online at the district website, d70schools.org on Feb. 24, 2012. To get the listing, click on “schools” and then “summer school.” Registration forms also may be downloaded at this site. Tuition fees have been frozen for the third year in a row.

For the second year, classes will be held to a four-day week and remain at Highland Middle School and Rockland Elementary School for younger students as work is done to the Butterfield School parking lot over the summer.

Last summer, District 70 cut back on energy costs by closing all school buildings on Fridays. Summer school historically has had low attendance on Fridays as families go on extended weekend vacations, administrators said.

Prekindergarten and pre-first grade classes, including courses with daily Spanish instruction, will be offered at Rockland School, 160 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville. Bongle said the younger children do better in a smaller school setting like Rockland.

While course offerings are being developed, some of the popular classes offered every year include building with legos, ball games, cheerleading, floor hockey, and golf.

All classes will be listed online, and parents are asked to download the registration form and send it in.

District residents may begin registering on March 4, nondistrict resident may begin registering March 11, and all registration will end May 25.

Adler Park physical education teacher Gerry Carollo will serve as summer school principal for the second year.

“Libertyville Elementary District 70 provides a wonderful summer program for children,” Bongle said. “The five week, half day program provides students opportunities in a variety of curriculum offerings as well as extra curricular activities. We are always looking to enhance the program through suggestions solicited from parents each year as well as the creative talents of our summer staff.

“In order to get some of your first choices, students should register early.”