PORT TOWNSEND —While public school students enjoy time off until September, those attending the private Swan School continue their class time through a portion of the summer,
They aren’t complaining.
“If I have a long summer vacation, I end up getting bored halfway through,” said Grace Webb, 11, a fifth-grader.
“It’s great to have shorter breaks that are more often,” said fellow fifth-grader Duncan Kopla, 11.
“You don’t miss your friends too much and the time you are in school isn’t too long, so it keeps it interesting.”
For the past two years, Swan School has operated with a balanced calendar, wit two week breaks in October, March and May-June, three weeks in the winter and five weeks in the summer.
The longer breaks are scheduled to coincide with public school schedules, so families with students that follow the balanced and traditional calendars can synchronize their vacation.
The school, located at 2354 Kuhn St. in a quiet residential neighborhood, has 62 students from preschool through sixth grade, with all classrooms containing several age and grade levels.
Russ Yates, the head of school, said the schedule often interferes with summer camp schedules, causing disappointment that the students can’t participate in some activities.
But the advantages of the balanced schedule are creating better balanced students.
“The biggest advantage is the elimination of summer learning loss,” he said.
“When I was teaching single subjects in the public school system, it could take until December until the kids remembered everything they learned the previous year.”
“Before the balanced calendar, I would forget everything over the summer,” said fifth-grader Emme Pirwitz, 10.
“I don’t feel disconnected from my public school friends because I still hang out with them after school.”
Students following the balanced calendar have the same amount of class hours as public schools but they are distributed differently.
The majority of graduating Swan School students attend Jefferson Community School, while others transfer to Blue Heron Middle School or West Sound Academy in Poulsbo.
Yates doesn’t think it’s likely that public schools will ever move toward a balanced schedule.
“Change can be hard for some people,” he said.
“We feel this change is worthwhile because it supports what is best for children’s educational needs.”
To celebrate the school, it is sponsoring a community picnic from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 11 at Pope Marine Park in downtown Port Townsend.
The picnic, which the school hopes will become an annual event, features the live zydeco music of the Delta Rays, local foods, a beer garden and a silent auction.
Tickets are $15 and available for purchase at the school or at the door.
For more information go to swanschool.net or call 360-385-7340.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
