She and her team aimed for 7,500 sign-ups . They got 10,517 . Families from other school districts even tried ( unsuccessfully ) to enroll their students – 20 to 25 out-of-district students attempted to enroll at every school hosting a camp .

“ The amount of interest was through the roof ,” Cha said .

Whether it ’ s Winter Camps , summer school or AP course enrollment , Cha ’ s passion is expanding opportunities . In January , she was honored as a finalist in the district ’ s Excellence in Education awards .

Cha has led the Extended Learning Office since 2019 , overseeing all programs that expand learning beyond the regular school day . This includes afterschool programs , summer school , Summer Camps , Saturday Academies and Winter Camps .

Extended learning programs provide additional learning and fun activities , and they give students an alternate experience with school and a different type of connection with staff . For example , when a student attends a fun science camp over the summer , it may change their view of regular school . about during summer and winter break .

“ They may not want to do just reading ,” Cha said . “ It really helped us flip the switch overall . It really took us in a new direction that was exciting and fun .”

Winter Camp Expands

For the pilot year of Winter Camps in 2021 , the district operated at 21 sites . Winter Camps were expanded in December and January to 36 sites and 15 sites in the community , like Fresno Chaffee Zoo .

“ Expanding the Winter Camps was one of the goals in Extended Learning ,” Cha said . “ We wanted students to have a safe space to be when school closes down . It ’ s all about making learning ‘ fun .’”

During two sessions over the three-week winter break , students could participate in all day or half day camp opportunities with activities ranging from art and music to science and engineering to snowboarding .

As Cha visited the various Winter Camps in January , she found herself wondering , “ Where would all these students be over the break if we didn ’ t offer this ? We ’ re lifting our community .”

Cha said data shows that students who attend an extended learning program like summer school have improved behavior at regular school following the extended learning .

She and her staff have conducted informal “ listening tours ” at schools with small groups of students to find out what they want to learn

30 BUILDING FUTURES : CONNIE CHA