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  • Amanda Townsend and Armond Reid continue to compete against each other in the Twizzler eating contest while their classmates look around to see who else is still trying to eat their Twizzlers without any hands. The contest was one of four events in the District 80 Summer School Olympics, held to celebrate the last day of Summer School on Friday. TESA CULLI/REGISTER-NEWS

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June 21, 2009

Fun on last day of Summer School

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — For the 125 students who have attended District 80 summer school, Friday was a day of fun, games and celebration.

The last day of summer school was celebrated with the Summer School Olympics. The event featured four events, the three-legged race, the doughnut eating contest, tug of war and a Twizzler eating contest.

“”This is the culmination of activities,” summer program coordinator Bethany Shaw said. “This activity is to reward the students for all their good work and good activities during summer school.”

This year marked an expansion in the District 80 summer school program, going from 75 students in 2008 to 125 students this year. Next year, if the district is able to receive the competitive 21st Century Stars grant, the program will be able to accommodate 425 students.

This year the program was expanded in services as well, with two meals for students and four hours of uninterrupted classroom instruction. Community partners were able to provide enhancement activities in the afternoon for many of the students.

But on Friday, the students were excited, cheering on their classmates as they competed. Each team had its own colors and signs to encourage competitors.

“They’ve been working on this very seriously,” Shaw said. “They have made signs, chosen team names and team colors. During their breaks, they have been practicing each of the events too.”

The district is expected to receive unofficial notification about the 21st Century Stars grant at any time.

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