Education

Summer vacation begins Friday, June 14 for students in the Madison Metro School District, and with free activities offered around the city throughout the season, kids can spend the warm months having fun and learning outside of the house. 

Read on for a rundown of some things for kids to do until school starts again in the fall.

Discovery Summer Science

In a cozy white house in Madison, a family of five sits in a circle. As the sun sets this Wednesday evening, someone flips on the lights and another conversation begins.

A strong alliance built over the course of many years and joint struggles binds them. Whoever speaks captures the attention of the other four. Brenda and Marty McMiller and their three children play off each other as the topic roams from college to politics before landing on “the three-headed beast.”

South Madison Promise Zone addresses needs identified by community members at monthly events

Although the school board elections are over, education-related issues still weigh on parents’ minds.

Soraya Willems-Neal (left) and Suzanne Swift: Willems-Neal is one of two new co-presidents who are replacing Swift for next year after her term ends

For Suzanne Swift, the president of Franklin-Randall Elementary School’s parent-teacher organization (PTO), the issues are the same as they have always been, despite certain ones being used by candidates to “hang their hats on.”

Today, Madison’s achievement gap is a frequent topic of conversation. The subject pops up in school board meetings, at candidate forums and in community conversations. But the issue was not always as well recognized as it is now.