Summer school begins

Students at West Boulevard Elementary School walk to the buses at the end of their first day of summer school on Monday. About 7,000 students are enrolled in the program.   ¦  BEVERLY DENNY

COLUMBIA — A bright afternoon capped the first day of summer school for students enrolled in the Newton Learning Summer Adventure Program. As children with smiling faces lined up outside to leave West Boulevard Elementary School, teachers and Principal Vickie Robb used walkie-talkies to ensure each child got on the right bus or left with the correct parent.

About 7,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade are enrolled in the four-week program.

Students jumped, laughed, sang and picked flowers after they were dismissed from the building.

Fourth-grader Juriyah Hayes said summer school is fun.

“I did math, science, body and basics and cool communications,” Juriyah said. But, like most young students, her favorite part was still recess and lunch.