By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Inverness Elementary School’s ESL Summer Camp wrapped up on June 26 as campers showed off their two weeks of hard work to their peers and teachers.

The two-week camp helped students learning English as a second language practice and strengthen their skills.

This year’s theme was “Animal Kingdom.” From June 15-26, students strengthened both their everyday and academic English skills through hands-on activities and projects about the Animal Kingdom.

At the end of the two weeks, each class, from rising kindergarteners to rising high school freshmen, created presentations using technology and apps to showcase their research about the animal kingdom.

“It shows them what they can do, and the possibilities for them,” IES ESL teacher and summer camp director Kiffany Rueda said. “We know (technology) is one of the important standards for public schools today.”

Classes used videos, PowerPoint presentations and applications such as ChatterPix to display their knowledge of habitats across the world and animals from dolphins and camels to seahorses and sloths.

The June 26 presentation of final projects not only wrapped up the two week camp, it also gave students a chance to see and learn from each other’s work.

“They get to appreciate each other and all their hard work,” Rueda said. “(The final presentations) create meaning and authenticity, it shows them all their hard work has meaning.”

Although the ESL Summer Camp is over, students can still practice their language skills over the summer. Throughout the two weeks, teachers gave students strategies and tools to continue strengthening their English at home, Rueda explained. IES also held an ESL parent night on June 22, giving parents a list of educational and language-building apps and websites.

“Education can be fun and modern,” Rueda said.