Students in the Lego Robotics class in NCSSM-Morganton’s Summer Accelerator program test out their robots in a competition pit. (photo: Emily Cunard)
School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean NCSSM has gone quiet. For nearly all of June and July, students from NCSSM and other schools throughout the state and beyond will be participating in NCSSM-facilitated summer programming on NCSSM’s campuses in Durham and Morganton or at partnering sites off-campus. All totaled, nearly 1,500 students, from rising fifth-graders to rising seniors, are scheduled to attend.
The programming is comprised of nearly 10 separate initiatives that originate either from NCSSM’s Extended Learning division, which facilitates summer programming for non-NCSSM students, or the school’s Academic Programs division, which is responsible for programs serving NCSSM students.
It’s all part of NCSSM’s greater mission to be a resource for public education in North Carolina, says Alicia Stokley, NCSSM-Durham’s Director of Summer Programs and Extended Partnerships. Her division – Extended Learning – manages NCSSM’s outreach to students enrolled in schools throughout the state.
“The beauty of Extended Learning is that we are able to fulfill our mission of serving North Carolina students through programming that is free of tuition for NC students. But, we’re also able to share our programming outside of North Carolina through tuition-based programs that are available to any student, anywhere. We’re not a school that’s just serving students nine months a year. We are a year-round resource.”
Gina Barrier, the Director of Summer Programs and Extended Partnerships at NCSSM-Morganton and Stokley’s colleague in Extended Learning, says summer offerings help students explore new ideas and new friendships.
“Our summer programs give students an opportunity to follow their interests in things that they normally can’t explore during the school year,” Barrier says. “It also gives them a chance to make friends that share similar interests. They stay in touch with each other, they email each other, they text each other, and then they plan to come back the following year.”
Given the rigorous nature of NCSSM’s academics, you might think the school’s Residential and Online students welcome the summer break from study. And most do. But this summer more than 220 rising seniors are returning for research and innovation opportunities in multiple disciplines at NCSSM or partnering universities or organizations.
“What makes summer programming so important for NCSSM students is that it gives them the gift of time and freedom to explore and create and innovate each day with no other distractions or requirements,” says Sarah Shoemaker, NCSSM-Durham’s Director of Mentorship and Research. “There’s no grade to earn for the transcript, no course loads or extracurriculars scheduled, and there’s no ‘right answer’ or specific outcome to achieve. It’s just the student with their mentor or instructor to guide them and an amazing community of peers to encourage and support them. When else in our lives, even as adults, are we afforded such an opportunity?”
