Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice—Learning with a Twist
Nearly 350 of our superstar students dove into a world of fun and education at Camp Candyland, part of our annual Summer Success Camp. Imagine a place where math is as exciting as a game of Candy Crush and reading feels like an adventure through a candy-coated wonderland! That’s what our K-8 students experienced, all while staying on track and gearing up for the new school year.
A Sweet Recipe for Success
With 225 elementary school students at Forest Hill Elementary and 89 middle schoolers at Houston Middle School, Camp Candyland was the place to be! Led by our dedicated summer camp principals, Joye Phipps and Sara Strickland, along with a team of enthusiastic teachers (think Willy Wonka, but for learning), kids mixed a little bit of sugar with a lot of smarts. They reviewed key concepts in math and reading, explored new ideas, and built confidence—all wrapped up in a candy-colored fun!
At both Forest Hill and Houston Middle, campers enjoyed special treats like cotton candy, snow cones, popsicles, STEM and art activities, games, and special guest speakers.
Inclusive Fun for All
Simultaneously, our Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program operated an Extended School Year (ESY) for students in special education programming who would benefit from summer learning. It’s wonderful that even in the summer, GMSD ESE students can thrive in an inclusive environment.
Stopping the Summer Slide, One Sweet Step at a Time
At GMSD, we know how important it is to keep those brain muscles flexing, even during the summer. Camp Candyland was designed to do just that, making sure our students are not only prepared for the next grade level but also eager and excited to learn.
Stay in the Sweet Loop!
If you think your child would benefit from our summer programming, now’s the time to start the conversation! Many of our programs, like Summer Success, are by invitation only, so be sure to chat with your child’s classroom teacher to explore opportunities for next summer.