Over 400 LaSalle Parish students have received additional classroom instruction this summer through the LaSalle Parish School System’s Animal Academy, a summer learning program held during the month of June.

Three locations were chosen to host the program: Jena Elementary School (K-2), Goodpine Middle School (3-8) and Olla Elementary School (K-8). The program, held Tuesday through Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is for students who completed kindergarten through eighth grade in the 2020-2021 academic year.

“This learning program is unique as it provides academic interventions along with fun, themed activities in art, music, P.E., field trips and projects specializing in Science, Technology and engineering,” Elementary Supervisor Brandy Brunson said. “The purpose of Animal Academy is to reinforce skills learned during the past school year and also to accelerate those skills in preparation for the upcoming year.”

Animal Academy was funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER), which provided nearly $122 billion to states and school districts around the country to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students.

Louisiana was awarded $286,980,175 in ESSER funding. According to the Louisiana Department of Education’s official website, the main purpose of Achieve! ESSER II, which is the specific funding received by LaSalle Parish in April 2021, is to measure and address learning loss among students disproportionately affected by the coronavirus and school closures, particularly students with high-needs.

Brunson said when the school system received the funding the administration had the freedom to choose the program’s hours, days and general set-up to best fit the student needs of the parish. She said their classroom size is about 15 to 16 students, which allows for more one-on-one instruction.

“Learning stations were arranged to ensure we are both remediating and accelerating all students in an hour per day of ELA and Math, but we also wanted to feature areas that are not as prominent in the school year anymore such as music and art,” Brunson said. “The response from the students has been positive, and they seem to be having a great time. We have found out that they have especially missed art during the school year, so we are planning to bring in these observations as we plan for this fall.”

Brunson said grades K-2 are covering Core Knowledge Louisiana (CKLA) skills, which were used in the classroom this year and focus on foundational skills, as well as Louisiana Guidebooks for ELA and Eureka Math Accelerate lessons. She said grades 3-8 are covering ELA Accelerate Guidebook Units, which focus on a unit they did not cover this year, and Eureka Math Accelerate lessons.

She added that each day also includes SEL, which is social emotional learning and centers on social lessons such as self-esteem and anger management, and a Daily Huddle, which focuses on team building and cooperation skills among the students. She said the students are also able to participate in special activities such as trips to the zoo, visits from the Corley Farm and holding a pet show.

Brunson said almost 100 staff members are working the program including administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodians, nurses and cafeteria staff. The program provides breakfast and lunch as well as bus transportation if needed.

Brunson said there was such an overwhelming interest for the summer learning program from the initial parent interest surveys to registration that there had to be a waiting list

“The enthusiasm of teachers and parents alike have really helped bridge the gap of unfinished learning for our students in LaSalle Parish along with the acceleration of their individual needs,” Brunson said. “I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the success of Animal Academy. I would also like to thank the Louisiana Department of Education for their guidance in implementing the summer learning program with a focus on our continued use of Tier 1 curriculum along with the federal government for the funding to provide an opportunity to close instructional gaps for our students.”

Brunson said she and other administration are excited to see students return to school next year with unfinished gaps closed from participating in Animal Academy.