Year Round Education in Riverton Schools
By Tom Mulligan
July 30, 2007
The Riverton School District is operating under its seventh school year on a balanced calendar. The calendar provides frequent breaks (intersessions) throughout the school year. The district started the 2007/2008 school year on July 24. The first quarter will end on September 28 and be followed by a two-week intersession. The second quarter will start on October 15 and will last until December 14. The students will enjoy a three-week intersession from December 15 through January 6. The third quarter will reconvene on January 7 and go through March 7. This quarter will also be followed by a two-week intersession. The fourth quarter will begin on March 24 with the school year concluding on May 28. The students and staff will have a little over six weeks off in the summer before returning for the 2008/2009 school year.
During each intersession, students are provided one week of extended learning opportunities. These opportunities are called academy week classes. The district provides remedial instruction in math, reading and writing at all three buildings (high school also offers science). The remedial instruction is provided at no cost to the students. The district also provides enrichment opportunities (for a nominal fee). Those opportunities range from four-hour classes, five days a week to a week long trips (most recently a group of middle school students went to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama). The district also provides transportation to and from academy week classes.
The year round “balanced” calendar has truly become part of the district’s culture. The district has adopted the philosophy that extended learning opportunities, used wisely, will result in increased achievement for students.
