By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – In order to keep students from falling behind over Christmas break, the St. Louis Public Schools have given out homework-of sorts.
Elementary and middle school students went home from school for the holidays were sent home with "Winter Break Academic Packages". The packets contain coursework designed to help students practice and retain instruction from the first semester. "Right now with the Christmas break we are indeed losing 11 instructional days and that's time that students can certainly have with teachers," said Paula Knight, the district's director of curriculum and instruction.
Students are not required to complete the assignments, but those that do can qualify for extra credit and prizes.
SLPS has also arranged tutor assistance available at 13 education centers that will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on December 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th. They are located at:
Blow Middle, 516 Loughborough Ave
Clay Elementary, 3820 North 14th St.
Ford Elementary, 1383 Clara Ave.
Hamilton Elementary, 5819 Westminster Pl.
Long Middle, 5028 Morganford Rd.
Mullanphy Elementary, 4221 Shaw Ave.
Nottingham CAJT High School, 4915 Donovan Ave.
Shaw Elementary, 5329 Columbia Ave.
Sigel Elementary, 2050 Allen Ave.
Stevens Middle, 1033 N. Whittier St.
Vashon High School, 3035 Cass Ave.
Walbridge Elementary, 5000 Davison Ave.
Yeatman-Liddell Prep, 4265 Athlone Ave.