We have blown through the end of December, Christmas holiday break, outgoing and incoming students, on the eve of Chinese New Year, and now, starting to think about summer!  I look at our blog and realize there are no new entries for December. That just tells you things were a little busy on our end. January brings a breath of fresh air and inspiration to start up with renewed energy!

SUMMER CAMPS ~ which one is right for my child?

There are numerous, wonderful schools all over the world offering great programs for kids during the summer. Help you narrow down your search by talking with your son or daughter about what he or she would like to get out of a summer program?   Is it intensive language immersion? Outdoor adventure?  Academic enrichment? Or a combination of activities?

While we don’t endorse any one summer school program, we are happy to help you get started and talk to you about your child’s needs. Listed below are a few schools that have come across our desks and a link to more schools that Shaun McElroy, one of our high school counselors has put together.  You can also find more links to sites on our resource page.  

http://teachers.saschina.org/mscounselors/resources/

http://www.internationalcounselor.org/summer2/Summer_Omnibus/Omnibus.html

SAMS was lucky enough to have a rep from Asheville School in North Carolina visit us in the Fall and provide us with information on their boarding school as well as their Summer Academic Adventures program.  They have a Chart Your Own Course 3 week program for rising 7th-9th graders that emphasizes experiential learning and making real world connections to the subject matter of the chosen courses.  To find out more about Asheville School click here:  http://www.ashevilleschool.org/summer

Choate Rosemary Hall offers a variety of programs such as: Young Writers, the English Language Institute, and the Math/Science Institute for Girls.  Their campus is in the beautiful New England area close to major cities, beaches, historic sites, and college campuses. To read more about the summer programs check out their web site.

 http://www.choate.edu/summerprograms

Summer school is a great opportunity for your child to meet other kids from around the world and  experience what life at a boarding school might be like.

SIG-Summer Institute for the Gifted, provides academically advanced students with an interesting and challenging educational experience. SIG’s programs combine academic courses with cultural, social, and recreational opportunities.  SIG has campuses at UC-Berkeley, Amherst College, Princeton University and a host of other campuses.  Check out the link below for a full listing.

 SIG Mission Statement

The mission of the Summer Institute for the Gifted is to provide the highest quality educational and social opportunities for academically gifted and talented students through programs designed to meet their abilities and needs.

http://www.giftedstudy.com/

The ‘right fit’ of a summer school program can be a defining moment in your child’s life.  Make sure you take the time to choose the best one for your son or daughter.  Talk to your counselor if you’re not sure, but first talk about it with your child and listen to what they want. We are here to help if recommendations are required for the school. Please come in and see us.