Hart district students attending summer school might be losing out on beach time, but they aren’t lonely. Approximately 7,500 students are attending classes on high school and junior high campuses. A benefit of the high attendance is an intermingling of students from across the Santa Clarita Valley. “It’s actually kind of fun,” said ninth-grader Christian Canul, 16, between classes at West Ranch High. “There’s enough people. There are more new faces here and I can comprehend better. I’m sure I’ll pass.” Canul, a Castaic resident, is taking English 9B and algebra B, two courses for which he was lacking credit. Anthony Parini is taking English 9A and 9B, where he is reading “Of Mice and Men,” and studying parts of speech. “I’m meeting new people,” Parini said. “Most of the teachers are cool and they kick back. During the year, there are some good teachers, but it’s more strict.” If he weren’t attending summer school, Parini said he’d just be “hanging out with my friends,” so he doesn’t mind it. With students on four high school and two junior high campuses taking traditional face-to-face and online classes, “this is bigger than a lot of school districts in the state,” said Leslie Crunelle, assistant superintendent for educational services. “This is 1,000 more students than last year.”

There are 1,200 who have registered for online classes. They will work at home during the week and come on campus to meet with a teacher once a week. Others attend an intensive, five-day-a-week class from 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. or 9:50 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., or both. Teacher Sarah Romero was leading a SEGUE class Tuesday morning with the help of two trained student assistants who help when pupils break into small groups.  “The class is for incoming ninth-graders who didn’t meet requirements for junior high,” said Mark Rayfield, West Ranch Assistant Principal for summer school. “The class is to help them be successful in high school.” SEGUE classes are taught in mathematics, English, study skills and social skills. The William S. Hart Union High School District provides each student with a backpack, notebook with dividers and other materials to help them become organized, Rayfield said. Summer school students either make up credits or get courses out of the way to have freer schedules in the fall.