Welcome to SAPESS!
Sponsored by the Elementary Education Department
at California State University, Northridge
Program dates: June 17, 2013 - July 26, 2013
For incoming K-5 grades
What is SAPESS?
At SAPESS, our intention is to focus on your child’s development and growth through exciting, hands-on academic and enrichment classes. Using collaborative planning, our teachers cultivate a safe, consistent environment for students to explore knowledge, discover talents and nurture new friendships. SAPESS assures small class sizes in order to foster the social-emotional growth of students as well as to promote the academic success of your child. One way SAPESS sustains a safe campus environment is by assigning a dedicated Teaching Assistant (TA) to each group of students. The TAs not only guide students from class to class and supervise them during breaks, but they become familiar with the strengths and uniqueness of each child.
Thank you for exploring our program. We look forward to your child’s participation in SAPESS this summer.
Parent Testimonials
- The orientation was very informative and the students got to visit their classrooms and be familiar with the building before the first day of class.
- As a parent, I see that the program cherishes each student.
- It was an excellent idea to have one TA staying with the same group of students the whole summer. Also, the same TA led students during transition of classes. This eliminated a lot of confusion in class transition, especially for younger students.
- The lawn chosen for students to take their break and snack was very suitable for young students. Also someone led games during break which was a wonderful thing.
- My son was totally engaged in every class, and came home daily with little facts and snippets of what he learned during the day. He even said he wishes he could have these teachers in his regular school.
- We were totally satisfied with the program, and plan on attending again next summer.
- Content seemed remarkable. Such timely instruction and conveyed in a way that he was excited to be a part of current events. Phenomenal summer education that makes me second-guess his regular school year.
- This summer was the best summer. My son had so much fun, and was so excited to come home and tell us about it. The program was amazing, and having wonderful staff that makes the kids feel so special is just great. Both my boys loved the program and can't wait for next summer to come back. My son was really hoping he could continue all year and not have to go back to elementary school.
- I definitely liked how the classes were predetermined and each class strengthened the next with related topics for the week. You all did an outstanding job creating a program. We loved it and will enroll for years to come.
- My boys would come home and tell me all kinds of facts they learned from their science and elective classes. It was a great experience.
Teacher Testimonials
- I really liked the fact that 1 TA moved with 1 group of students for the entire day. That made it much easier to learn students’ temperaments, strengths, and weaknesses quickly. This allowed us to support the students better and more efficiently.
- The idea of connecting content area material to a single specific theme in all the classes seemed to make student learning more cohesive and valid.
- I really enjoyed teaching my students outdoors for nature and sports. It was a treat to have the students learn outside. I heard so many of them saying that they were having so much fun, that it didn't feel like they were learning, but they actually were!
- I like the idea of teachers of different subjects working on one similar theme at the same time. I think the children enjoyed it as well. It made for some very strong learning.
- Each time the students were excited about something I taught, or there was a creative writing assignment they were really excited by, was memorable for me.
- Watching the students get so excited when their rockets shot off is something I will not soon forget. I loved watching jump up and down and scream with delight! Making lessons come alive for the students is what I will remember most.
- Also seeing the relationships the students made these past five weeks with their consistent class peers was neat to see.