Summer Enrichment Program at Pennington keeps K-7 students learning and creating

Students at Pennington School are sharpening their academic skills while enjoying creative, hands-on activities through the Mount Vernon City School District’s Summer Enrichment Program.

Held Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout July, the program gives students opportunities to strengthen their English Language Arts and math skills while participating in engaging enrichment activities designed to make learning fun.

In one first-grade classroom on Tuesday, teacher Kandie Brown guided students through a camping-themed lesson as they learned how to build paper s’mores while reinforcing literacy and other classroom skills.

“This is the Summer Enrichment Program where the students work with ELA and math just to enrich what they know and further their education,” Ms. Brown said. “We go over skills to help prepare them for second grade.”

Across the hall, incoming second-graders enthusiastically solved addition problems at the board during a math lesson led by teacher Nicole White, who was assisted by Anntonnette McIntosh. Students eagerly volunteered answers as they practiced the foundational math skills that will help them succeed in the coming school year.

Meanwhile, creativity took center stage in a fifth-grade classroom, where teacher Marlena Wheelwright’s students rehearsed an original play they wrote themselves for the program’s end-of-summer talent show.

The story follows a princess who becomes lost in the woods, with students taking turns performing their lines while another student showcased her singing talent as part of the rehearsal.

“We do math, we do ELA, and this is part of their ELA,” Ms. Wheelwright said. “They wanted to do a creative play that will also lend itself to the talent show.”

By blending academic instruction with collaborative projects and creative expression, the Summer Enrichment Program helps students stay engaged, build confidence and continue learning throughout the summer months while preparing for a successful return to school in the fall.

“Summer 2026 programming is designed to provide a comprehensive and responsive learning experience that meets the diverse academic and developmental needs of our students,” according to the District’s overview.

Among the goals of the program is to “increase scholars’ achievement district-wide by at least 5% in all core subjects with particular attention to sub-groups with special needs.”

Other summer initiatives being offered are the Initial Credit Program for students entering ninth grade, a credit recovery program, an English as a New Language (ENL) Academy, a kindergarten transition program and an eighth-grade Summer Bridge Program.