(July 25, 2024) Learning during the summer months should be fun, motivating, and engaging. That is why the Rochester City School District is proud to celebrate its Summer of Discovery and the learning programs offered to students from July 8 – August 20, 2024.
One program is Roc Explorers for RCSD students in grades K – 5, located at Flower City School No. 54 and Abraham Lincoln School No. 22. The Roc Explorers curriculum includes science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and social studies. All subjects are centered around the theme “Who I Am.” This approach respects different cultures, helping students connect with their identity and heritage in profound, personal ways.
“We want to focus on providing a culturally relevant curriculum, something that students can see themselves in, be excited about, and walk away with a sense of purpose,” said Christi Beckley, a 2nd-grade teacher at John Wiliams School No. 5. “It fills me with a sense of pride knowing that when my babies get to fifth, sixth, and seventh grade, they come back to me and tell me they remember what I taught them.”
“I am confident about my future,” said Angel Ponder, a rising 3rd-grade student at World of Inquiry School No. 58. “If I work hard, I can be successful in my future.”
Additionally, students in the Roc Explorers program engage in unity circles to learn about each other’s perspectives, highlighting the power of student voice. Teachers and teaching assistants collaborated on this program, which was developed with guidance from Dr. Susan Goodwin, Director of the Rochester Teaching Center.
