Oakland's Summer Programs Prepare Next Generation of Innovators

This is the second installment of our “Summer of Impact” series, in which we spotlight programs where students became scientists, engineers, and innovators, transforming abstract concepts into tangible creations through hands-on STEAM activities. They’re part of OUSD’s Expanded Learning programs, which served 8,000 students from Pre-K to young adulthood across 42 school sites this summer.

Manzanita Community School Transformed Students into Young Scientists 

The program at Manzanita Community Elementary School, led by LaTasha Ellison and after-school leader Jennifer Sanches from East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), was a hub of discovery for 105 TK-4th-grade students from Fruitvale, Glenview, and Bella Vista elementary schools. Along with Oakland Goes Outdoors (OGO), students took part in numerous outdoor educational experiences, helping them forge connections between classroom learning and the world around them. The hands-on science curriculum was a major highlight. 3rd and 4th grade students delved into the world of ethology, gaining a deep understanding of owls, their habitats, and food cycles, before carefully dissecting owl pellets to identify the bones of their prey. 

Meanwhile, 1st and 2nd-grade students unleashed their creativity as engineers. From blueprint designs to full models, they brought their architectural concepts to life by building "earthquake-proof" structures out of graham crackers and icing, testing them with shaking table simulations.

Bret Harte Middle School Blends STEM with Social Justice 

At Bret Harte Middle School, middle schoolers from across the district joined together for a full day of academic intervention and STEM enrichment. Under the leadership of principal April Harris-Jackson and Oakland Leaf's team of Alejandra Izazaga, Adriana Soza, and Camille Nubla, the program had a strong emphasis on social justice, creative expression, and connection with nature, alongside STEM. 

A key aspect of the program was its full inclusion of students receiving Extended School Year (ESY) services, ensuring those in Special Education were integrated into all enriching experiences. The approach allowed students to build friendships across Oakland’s neighborhoods. "I learned a lot and really enjoyed building relationships with students from multiple school sites on campus," said Adriana Soza, an Oakland Leaf Site Coordinator. "It was exciting to see how OUSD integrated ESY students into the summer learning program."

Roosevelt Middle School Students Built Their Own Arcade at Garfield Elementary 

The spirit of innovation was buzzing at Garfield Elementary, where middle schoolers from Roosevelt Middle School gathered for a summer of hands-on creation. Under the leadership of EBAYC coordinator Kariah Scott, the program was a whirlwind of field trips, team sports, and intensive STEM projects. "She's the best," said one student about the strong relationships Scott and her team built with them. The centerpiece of the summer session was a major STEM project, in which students spent weeks designing and building their own arcade games, such as skee ball machines. 

For the culminating event, the students transformed their space into a fully playable arcade. The celebration continued with a Field Day featuring bouncy houses, water slides, basketball, and arts and crafts. Summer principal Nina Gardner-Meeks reflected on the day's success, saying, "It was refreshing to see so many middle schoolers off of their phones and engaged in so many positive activities."

These programs demonstrate how Oakland's summer learning initiatives are cultivating the next generation of innovators and leaders. Stay tuned for our final installment, in which we will celebrate programs that embrace the whole child through comprehensive community partnerships.