Opp City Schools is launching a new, innovative enrichment program this summer for its students.

“We are launching a little summer learning academy,” OCS Assistant Superintendent Emily Edgar said. “We are calling it SHINE – Shaping Horizons in Education.”

Edgar said the program is for students who meet certain criteria, and is for students in grades up to eighth.

“It’s going to be ongoing instruction in reading and math,” she said. “Our goal is to sustain or grow current levels of learning, but it’s not your typical summer school.”

Edgar said the program will cater to students who need ongoing support and need much more to be prepared for next school year.”

Edgar said the program is not for retainees.

“It’s going to be an intense learning experience,” she said. “It’s going to also go beyond reading and math. We are going to offer an enrichment activity such as fishing at MacArthur, an art activity, music and an science experiment.”

Edgar said this will be a good learning environment, and students who make a good effort and good attendance will be rewarded.

The program will begin June 16 and be three days a week.

Edgar said the program is free, and that students who are selected for the program will be given free breakfast and lunch.

“We are identifying these students ourselves and letters will go home to parents this week,” she said.

Edgar said this program is for students who aren’t going to take a vacation.

Edgar said for students in grades five through eight, they will have a unit of learning on how to plan a vacation.

The unit will include picking a destination, renting a car, making hotel reservations, buying a plane ticket and budgeting. They will also have to determine if a passport is necessary for the travel.

“We are trying to do a teachable activity,” she said. “Some of these students will never learn this type of thing at home.”

For kindergarteners, Edgar said they will do a science enrichment project consisting of a worm garden with crushed up Oreos.

Those who attend as encouraged will be rewarded with a fun day celebration complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones and bouncy houses.

“We want to create a non-intimidating environment,” she said. “We want to reward them and have fun and learn.”

Edgar said if the program is successful, it will become a yearly program.

“We know there is a need,” she said.