Latest news with #summerprogram
Arab News
2 days ago
- Science
- Arab News
Diriyah Horizon program empowers creative youth
RIYADH: The third Diriyah Horizon youth summer program began on Sunday, organized by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority in partnership with several entities to build youth skills and promote cultural and national values. Collaborators include the King Abdulaziz Center for Cultural Communication, Saudi Space Agency, iLMI Science Discovery and Innovation Center, and Mahd Sports Academy. The program offers hands-on learning experiences to enrich participants and boost educational outcomes, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It reflects the authority's commitment to education and social responsibility by providing a dynamic environment filled with diverse, skill-building activities. Running until Aug. 21, the program features six specialized tracks inspired by Diriyah's heritage and values, including 14 workshops. The leadership track covers debate, volunteerism and public speaking. The heritage track explores archeological excavation and traditional mudbrick construction. The creative production track focuses on photography and filmmaking. The science track includes water systems, soil science, sustainable energy and aircraft design. The space track offers interactive sessions on astronomy, space technology and Diriyah's agricultural seasons, while the sports track features fencing and archery. Held Sunday to Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the program aims to shape a conscious, capable generation rooted in Saudi identity. It fosters pride, cultural awareness, creativity, innovation and real-world problem-solving.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Students participate in SuperNOVA
Atlantic Watch Students at Dalhousie's SuperNOVA summer program put their remotely operated vehicles to the test.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Summer school for migrant students takes a double hit from Trump. Fewer kids go to the zoo
The 8-year-old girl is a migrant student whose family moves frequently in search of seasonal work. But for five weeks this summer, she found stability, fun and academic nurturing in a program for children like her that included visits to the L.A. Zoo twice a week. But like the axolotl, the salamander she studied, this program is critically endangered. Because migrant students may have family members who are living in the country illegally — or may themselves lack legal status — the Trump administration wants to end federal funding for it, saying the program wastes money and violates his policy directives. And in a more immediate blow to the program, amid fears over immigration-enforcement raids, fewer children went to the zoo and virtually no parents attended concurrent education workshops on how to support their children's learning. Although the federally funded zoo experience is a tiny program within the Los Angeles Unified School District — and a small part of a summer school that reaches tens of thousands of students, it offers a window into how Trump administration policies filter down to the classroom affecting California's complex education mission and some of the state's most vulnerable children. There are 1,700 students defined as migrants in the nation's second-largest school system, which has about 400,000 students ranging from transitional kindergarten through high school. Parents of these students typically work in agriculture or the dairy industry and they move with the seasons. The children sometimes move with the parents; sometimes they stay behind with relatives in the Los Angeles area or a different home base. Their parents typically have limited education and often limited English-language skills. The federal government provides L.A. Unified about $1.4 million for extra help for migrant students throughout the school year, part of some $400 million in federal migrant education grants available nationwide. The annual distribution of this funding was supposed to begin July 1, but the Trump administration held it back, even though it was approved by Congress earlier this year. Read more: Trump administration freezes $6.8 billion in federal education funds; California hit hard Nationwide, this withheld funding for various education programs surpassed an estimated $6 billion, although some was released last week. Last week California joined other states in suing the Trump administration for holding back the money, much of which the administration wants to eliminate entirely in future years, including the migrant education funding. Those who applaud the federal cutbacks say that state and local governments should pay for these programs if they are valuable. Others believe the federal government retains an important role in helping children with special needs. Without federal involvement, "some students are going to lose, and historically, it had been students of color, it had been migrant students, it had been low-income students," said Mayra Lara, director of Southern California partnerships and engagement for the advocacy group EdTrust-West. A look inside L.A. Unified's effort RR — a rising third-grader whom the The Times agreed to identify by her initials to protect her and her family's privacy — has attended the zoo program for two consecutive years. "I was kind of excited because I had the same teacher, because I really wanted the same teacher because she was nice and kind," said RR, who wears glasses and has a dark ponytail. The number of participants who study at the zoo program is relatively small — because many families leave the area for summer work. In a typical year, 45 students, mostly in elementary school, take part. This summer, however, the number plummeted to 25, even though L.A. Unified provided buses to take students to the zoo and to Malabar Elementary in Boyle Heights, the home base for classroom work. What happened is no mystery to Ruth Navarro, the program's lead teacher for L.A. Unified. Concerned about immigration raids, four families asked if the district could pick their kids up from home. The district figured out a way to do this, but the families eventually declined to participate regardless, Navarro said. "Even though we were willing to go to their home to pick them up, they didn't want to let their child out the door because of fear of what might happen to them," Navarro said. Normally, the school system needs three buses to pick up participating students. This year, one of the buses was canceled. In addition, virtually no parents took advantage of a program for them that coincided with the hours their children were in class, Navarro said. This effort included workshops on such topics as social emotional learning and how to help children improve their reading skills. There also was advice on how to access help with immigration issues, Navarro said. In response to fears, parents were provided with an online simulcast for the workshops — in which about 15 parents participated, Navarro said. Los Angeles Unified also expanded an online version of the Malabar elementary classes, in which about 40 students participated to varying degrees — far more than usual. But the online students missed out on the heart of the program — seven trips to the zoo and in-person classroom interaction. RR took full advantage of summer learning — and became expert on the axolotl. At first, "I thought it was just like a normal fish, but until I noticed the legs. I was like, 'Wait, a fish doesn't have legs,' " she recounted. RR, like other students, created art projects of her animal and also served as a docent for parents and visitors. "They have gills that help them breathe underwater," she explained, holding a microphone next to the tank, adding that the axolotl can change colors to hide. "There's one camouflaging over there," she said, pointing. RR thinks it would be fun to be an axolotl and breathe underwater. She's never been to a pool or an ocean. Read more: California law faces revise as high court allows parents to 'opt out' of LGBTQ+ school stories The students are typically extremely shy at the start of the summer, said Coral Barreiro, community programs manager for the L.A. Zoo. "They learn interpretation skills, which is amazing for building up confidence and public speaking in the future," Barreiro said. "They meet with the zookeepers, and they basically, at the end, mimic everything that we've done and make it their own." The big-picture debate L.A. Unified is continuing its migrant student program for now by using reserves that were designated for other purposes. During the school year, the migrant program pays for services such as tutoring and an extended instructional time after school and on Saturdays. Some argue that migrant programs — and many other examples of federal education spending — are not the responsibility of the federal government, including Neal P. McCluskey, director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute. "The federal government doesn't have constitutional authority to fund programs like that, not to mention we have a $37-trillion national debt," said McCluskey, who was not taking a position on the value of the effort. "If government is going to provide such a program, it should be state or locally funded." Read more: Trump administration orders California to remove gender identity from sex education lessons The Trump administration, in its budget proposal for next year, echoes this argument, but also classifies the migrant effort as an outright negative. "This program is extremely expensive" per student, according to budget documents. "This program has not been proven effective and encourages ineligible noncitizens to access taxpayer dollars stripping resources from American students." Critics of the administration's approach say that the federal government has long stepped in to support the students who need it most — when a state is unwilling or unable to do so. Without federal regulation and funding, state and local governments have not "done right by all students," said Lara, of EdTrust-West. The pending cuts and withheld funds, she said, will result in "denying opportunity to students. State and local governments are going to have to make really tough decisions." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Bawaba
20-07-2025
- Health
- Al Bawaba
High school students explore medicine at WCM-Q
Eighty-three local and international high school students aspiring to pursue careers in medicine had the opportunity to gain early exposure to the field through the Medical Minds Online Program (MMOP), a summer program organized by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).The week-long virtual event was part of the Summer Enrichment Programs, designed to introduce pre-college students to the field of medicine and science through engaging and interactive sessions led by WCM-Q's faculty and staff, who are experts in their by WCM-Q's Office of Student Outreach and Educational Development, the program aims to provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the medical field to students with a keen interest in medicine and the sciences. It targets students in Qatar's high schools and from different parts of the world who have shown academic excellence in the sciences and girls and 33 boys from 43 schools engaged in a variety of live Zoom sessions and self-paced modules, such as medical ethics, anatomy, surgery, forensic biology, and the admissions process at participating students, entering grades 10, 11, and 12, came from various schools across Qatar, while international students joined the sessions from Algeria, Brazil, Canada, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and by physicians, medical educators, and WCM-Q student mentors, the program offered both academic knowledge and personal development skills, including building a professional identity in medicine and exploring career pathways. The students also learned how to work on Canvas, a learning management system used by educational program explored different specialties in medicine to give the students a chance to see which field they were passionate about. To inspire them further, the faculty shared personal stories about their medical five WCM-Q pre-medical students served as student assistants in a session titled 'Building your Professional Identity in Medicine,' where they facilitated group discussions that asked students to identify their personal values, reflect on what drew them to medicine, and link these values to their vision of medical practice. The students were Fatima Abdulla, Shaikha Al Ishaq, Nouf Alabdulmalik, Noof AlMalik, and Mohammed Ali medical and pre-medical students, Reem Al Janahi, Batoul Arabi, Fatima Al-Mohammed, Anns Mahboob, and Ola AboMoslim, also conducted a panel discussion where they tackled topics such as writing personal statements, interview techniques, and student life at the conclusion of the program, all students were awarded a certificate of Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach, and educational development, said: 'The MMOP was a wonderful opportunity for high school students to get a glimpse of the medical field. By combining both academic content and real-life insights from professionals and our students, I believe this will help the students make informed decisions about their future and build a strong foundation for those considering careers in the healthcare sector. Offered online, the program's international reach expanded attracting students from more than ten different cities around the world, in addition to Doha, Qatar.'Student participant Faisal Alazawi of The Hamilton International School, who is heading to grade 12, said: 'The program was an eye-opener, and I have learned that everyone's journey into medicine is personal and unique. Hearing the doctors share their experiences, including the challenges they have encountered, motivations, and turning points, was really inspiring, which showed me that there's no single path to becoming a physician. The program being held virtually made it incredibly accessible, allowing us to learn from anywhere while still gaining insight into what WCM-Q students experience. The self-paced modules kept me productive now that we are on summer break.' Dr. Rachid Bendriss, assistant professor of education in medicine, associate dean for foundation, student outreach, and educational development programs, and professor of English as a second language, said: 'I believe that besides introducing the students to medical topics, the program helped them build essential skills like critical thinking, communication, and self-directed learning. It's incredible to see young minds grow more confident about pursuing their goals in medicine in the future.'
CNN
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
From summer school to language class, Education Department freezes leave students bereft of learning lifelines
Desperation crept into Sylvia's voice as she rattled off all the ways her life would become more difficult if a free learning program that her son attends during the summer shuts its doors. A single mother, Sylvia works as a janitor and is the sole breadwinner for her family which includes her 10-year-old as well as her ailing mother. 'I cannot sleep at night,' said Sylvia, who spoke to CNN through a translator as she picked up her son, Gabriel, at the end of a long shift. 'Gabriel is asking, 'Mom, why you are crying? Why are you crying, mom?'' She has been crying, she said, because she knows that the glue that keeps it all together — a nonprofit program that allows her son to have a safe place to stay, warm meals and a chance to learn English — is being targeted by the Trump administration. She declined to give her last name, citing privacy concerns amid the current political climate. Aspire Afterschool Learning, where Gabriel spends his days during the summer school break in Arlington, Virginia, is one of more than 10,000 summer and after-school programs across the country that has been pushed into a state of perilous uncertainty after the Department of Education abruptly paused the grant it depends on to keep things running. The fund, called 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), is a federal program that was among a huge swath of nearly $7 billion of education grants that the department suddenly froze this month, with little notice. The halt came amid a review that alleged the money was being used to promote 'leftwing' ideologies. It comes as the Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the Department of Education, with mass layoffs underway and severe funding cuts under consideration. Much of the money goes towards programs that serve some of the US' poorest children. On Monday, some two dozen Democratic-led states sued the Department of Education in federal court to release the funds, which had already been approved by Congress and were supposed to have been disbursed to the states on July 1st. But the squeeze is already forcing many summer programs to scramble to stay open, even as schools and educational schemes are bracing for deeper impacts in the fall. The paused funding for K-12 programs included money for teacher education and recruitment, English language programs, student enrichment and nonprofit learning centers that partner with schools, among other initiatives. They are delivered through grant programs like 21st CCLC, with state education agencies distributing the money to grantees, including school districts and nonprofits that run free enrichment programs or work with schools to put on programming throughout the year. One day prior to the date the funds were to be released, the Department of Education instead sent a letter saying that money is not coming, pending a review. 'The Department will not be issuing Grant Award Notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review,' it said. 'The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President's priorities and the Department's statutory responsibilities.' The impact of the freeze is already being felt as it has caused many programs to question whether they will be able to stay open this summer. 'It feels like we're punishing a whole lot of students,' said Paula Fynboh, who runs Aspire, which provides programming throughout the year. She is cobbling together money to keep the summer school running through student-run lemonade stands and other fundraising efforts. But if the money continues to be withheld come the fall, she will have to tell 25 families now in the program that their children will not be able to return. Many nonprofits are facing similar odds. 'They can try and keep their doors open an extra few days and extra few weeks and maybe if they're lucky they have rainy day fund but you know that's a Band-Aid that isn't going to last forever,' said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization. 'If these funds are blocked, the fallout will be swift and devastating,' said Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of America, the nation's largest after-school youth program. Many sites are also in the midst of running their summer camps and programs, and nearly a fifth (17%) of the Boys and Girls Club network is funded by the 21st CCLC grant, according to the Afterschool Alliance. Up to 926 Boys & Girls Club centers, serving more than 220,000 kids, could be forced to close if the funds are not released, Clark said. Many of them are from underserved communities, and 'will lose access to essential supports like healthy meals, caring mentors, and safe spaces during the most vulnerable hours of the day,' he added. Addie Nardi, who runs a Boys & Girls Club in a rural part of Maryland about 90 minutes from Washington, DC, said the sudden funding freeze this month felt like 'a kick to the gut'— but the shock was 'secondary, almost, to the concern of how we were going to be able to continue to serve these kids.' If the funds don't come through, the site will likely permanently close, leaving elementary students and their families without one of their only options for support in the area, Nardi said. There is no timeline for when the Department of Education review will be completed and if the money will ever start up again. The impetus for the pause came from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which described it as part of an 'ongoing programmatic review of education funding.' In a statement, OMB raised concerns about how some of the funds may have been used by schools. 'Initial findings show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda. In one case, NY public schools used English Language Acquisition funds to promote illegal immigrant advocacy organizations. In another, Washington state used funds to direct illegal immigrants towards scholarships intended for American students. In yet another, School Improvement funds were used to conduct a seminar on 'queer resistance in the arts.'' OMB did not provide documentation about their claims when asked by CNN. Grant, of Afterschool Alliance, says the move feels extreme. 'Nobody even knows what they're reviewing,' Grant said, 'If there's a specific program that they're concerned about, they should be investigating that program but not holding up funding for all of these other kids across the country.' Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers union, said the freeze of funds already approved by Congress for this summer is particularly damaging. The Department of Education's move is 'hurting children and creating chaos,' she said. Beyond the immediate threat to summer schools vying to stay open now, school districts and nonprofit education programs are bracing for more hardship into the school year. According to an analysis by the New America Foundation, a Washington, DC, think tank, school districts will lose an average of $220,289 if the funds continue to be withheld. Some stand to lose millions, with the poorest districts suffering the most. 'Districts serving high-poverty student populations (those where over 25 percent of children live in poverty) will lose over five times as much funding per pupil as low-poverty school districts (those where fewer than 10 percent of children live in poverty),' according to New America's analysis. 'The 100 school districts facing the biggest cuts on a per-pupil basis have an average child poverty rate of 24.4 percent, much higher than the national average of 15.3 percent.' Many school districts work with outside organizations to use federal grants to run after-school care or offer academic support for children from low-income families. Aspire in Virginia, for example, runs after-school programs at a community center and two local schools that serve many low-income families. Ninety-nine percent of Aspire's students are from families of color, and more than 90% are living below the poverty line. Over three-quarters speak a language other than English at home. Colorful posters line the walls at the community center where Aspire holds its programs, available to kids from 3rd to 8th grade. In one room, an arts and crafts project making masks was taking place, and in another, it was 'pirate day' where teachers dressed as pirates were fielding questions. Some students and former students who have come back as volunteers are serving snacks: On the day CNN visited, it was pineapples and blueberry muffins. The program regularly wraps up and discreetly sends home any leftovers to families in the program who would otherwise go without food. Kids who participate in the program earn points for academic and social achievements — and the difference it makes shows. 'I feel, like, happy because I now, I know how to read,' shared Monserrat, a little girl from Bolivia who is entering 4th grade in the fall. She joined Aspire a year ago, when her family moved to the US. She likes Aspire more than her regular school, she said, because she feels more competent and gets extra support. April, a rising 4th grader, said that Aspire helped her with her English, and now, she even helps translate for her parents. (April and Monserrat's parents asked that their last names not be used to protect their privacy.) When asked for thoughts on their experiences at Aspire, the girls raised both arms high above their heads, with two enthusiastic thumbs-up, flashing wide smiles. The states suing the Department of Education are asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction to unfreeze the funds immediately in at least some states. Fynboh said she fears the day Aspire will have to close. 'Walking by an empty classroom every day is going to be hard,' said Fynboh. 'We know these kids and we know their parents, their faces, their names, their stories, their gifts, their talents, and we know which ones are going to lose access to the program. And that's just heartbreaking.'
