Summer Programs at The Best Private School in Houston, Duchesne Academy

SAT/ACT Preparation (Credit Course)
College admissions testing can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! This course will provide an overview of the SAT and ACT, helpful hints for taking each exam, and practice with questions from the different sections of the tests. Focus will be on test strategies and development of cross-conceptual skills to aid in thinking and application. Students will develop in their test-taking skills and will be ready to approach either exam with confidence. 

Instructor:  Alaina Scorsone
Ages:  Entering 10th-12th Grades
Dates: July 10 - 21 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Price:  $750

Yearbook (Credit Course)
Interested in using your love of writing and photography to contribute to the Duchesne community? Be on the L’Esprit yearbook staff and capture school memories. Using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, you will learn about photo composition, journalism, and design elements of print mediums. Summer students will finalize the 2023 book and work on theme and cover design for the 2024 book, as well as plan for 2024 coverage, and capture summer events.

Instructor:  Jill Hess
Ages:  Entering 9th-12th Grades
Dates: June 5 - 16 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Price:  $750

Intro to Java (Credit Course)
A piping hot cup of Java might just be the most important step in your morning routine, but Java also happens to refer to one of many industry-standard programming languages utilized in Computer Science applications such as the internet of things, game development, big data analysis, and sensors for self-driving cars! This intro course intends to provide students with a reliable foundation of computer science and the basics of programming in Java with a focus on problem solving and algorithm development.
Prerequisites for high school students: Students must take: Digital Product Design, Maker’s Arduino, Intro to Robotics, Computer Science for the Curios, or Game Design before taking Introduction to Computer Science, because it is a console intensive course.

Instructor: Zach Cavanaugh
Ages: Entering 10th-12th Grades
Dates: June 5 - 16 (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Price: $750

This weekly program is for girls and boys entering PreK4-Kindergarten. The three theme-based weeks will include an integrated curriculum. Experience an enjoyable, fun-filled, nurturing atmosphere with arts and crafts, cooking, games, story time, music, sports, and FunFridays! Choose from full-day or half-day options.

One Week Sessions

• Session 1: June 26-June 30, 2023 (Entering 1st-6th)
• Session 2: July 10-July 14, 2023 (Entering 1st-6th)

Two Week Session

• Sessions 2 and 3: July 10-July 21, 2023 (Entering 1st-8th)

Summer Academic and Enrichment Courses Entering Grades PreK4-12th

Welcome to Duchesne's summer program for girls and boys entering grades PK4 - 12. We offer over 100 classes with a wide variety of topics such as ACADEMICS, SPORTS, ART, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, DANCE, and much more! Join us for a fun, nurturing experience which is what the HEART of your child's summer should be! 

The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, tuition assistance, or other school administered student programs.

Early registration is strongly advised due to limited enrollment of classes. Students are accepted, and all courses are assigned in the order in which applications are received. Registration confirmation will be via email once you have registered online.

All students must provide a copy of current immunization records indicating that they are up to date with ·the State of Texas Minimum Immunization Requirements for their appropriate age level unless currently enrolled at Duchesne. This must be received before any student's registration is considered complete. 

Everyone is charged a one-time annual registration fee of $50.00 per student. (Non-refundable) 

Students are required to be in a summer course while on campus and must be supervised at all times. Students are not allowed to wait in the library or elsewhere on campus before a course, after a course is over, or in between courses. Extended Morning and Extended Afternoon are available for registration to those who need to be dropped off early, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., or picked up after 3:00 p.m. 

When registering online, you may pay by credit card or e-check. Please note that there is a convenience fee charged by credit card companies for credit card payments.

Duchesne Academy's Heart of the Summer Program reserves the right to change or cancel any class or program. Efforts will be made to assign students affected by such a change or cancellation to another available program, class or course. Please note that in this situation, the new class may be priced differently, and you will be charged or credited the difference. A complete class refund will be given in those cases where another program placement is not available. Parents will be notified as soon as possible of this situation. Any unused credit on an account will be refunded. A $60 per class cancellation fee will be assessed for each class cancelled by the parent. This includes cancellations due to vacation schedules, conflicting activities and absences. Registration may be cancelled, and tuition refunded (minus the registration fee) prior to May 19, 2023. 

Beginning May 20, 2023 each time a confirmed class scheduled is changed or switched by a parent, a $25 fee will be charged for each class. 

Refunds will not be issued after June 16, 2023.

Appropriate summer attire is required. Students may wear shorts, T-shirts, socks and tennis shoes. No sandals or flip flops please.

Extended Morning meets in the Dining Hall from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. daily. Extended Afternoon is held in the Dining Hall from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Students must be picked up on time. After 5:00 p.m., parents will be charged $15 for every 10 minutes that your child stays late in Extended Afternoon. The fee for Extended Morning is $55 a week. For Extended Afternoon, the fee is $80 a week. Extended Morning and Extended Afternoon are available by the session. Registration is required.

If an occasion arises that your child will need to be dropped off early or picked up late, the fee will be $12 per day for Extended Morning and $20 per day for Extended Afternoon. 

Lunch

Only full day students and those who have a class immediately before AND after lunch are permitted to eat lunch on campus. All other students not staying for lunch must be picked up promptly at 11:30 a.m. in the Lower School circular drive. Students have the option of buying a lunch or bringing a sack lunch. Heart of the Summer provides the option for students to buy lunch on a weekly basis through Duchesne Academy's FLIK Dining Program. The fee for lunch is $42/week and can be purchased when registering.

Please contact Michael Kenny at Flik Dining with any questions. 

Weekly Lunch Menu

Snacks

Snacks will be provided ONLY to students who are participating in the Girls Camp and Boys Camp programs, as well as Extended Afternoon. If your child needs a snack before or after lunch, he/she may bring one from home.

Cell phones and similar personal devices must be turned off and put away safely during Summer Program hours unless required by a class in which the student is registered. Students may use the phone in the Summer Program's office if a phone call needs to be made. Should this become a problem, phones/electronics will be collected and given back at the end of the day. 

Early/Late Pick-up

Please call the Summer Program office at 713-468-8211 ext. 3200 when picking up early or arriving late. Your child will be escorted to/from your car by a member of the Heart of the Summer staff.

Absence

To report an absence, please call 713-468-8211 ext. 3200 and leave your child's name and the class(es) that will be missed. We will notify the instructor(s). 

In case of weather alerts and other emergencies, closure information will be posted on duchesne.org. Please note that there are no refunds for days the school is closed. 

Credit courses are demanding academically, and the schedule is rigorous. Perfect attendance is required. Credit will not be awarded to students who miss any class. Grades are given to students by the end of the course through the instructor. Official grade reports and credit are awarded at the completion of MOD 1.

If a student withdraws from a credit course after a class has begun, the withdrawal and the withdrawal grade will be noted on the student's permanent record. Withdrawals require a parent's written authorization. 

Download the Registration Worksheet

Please use the worksheet to decide what classes your child will take during a session before you register online. Before submitting your registration to us, double check that there are no gaps in your child's schedule and that no classes overlap. If you enter a class in one column, you should not enter a class in the other column that would conflict. For example, if a student will register for the three-hour class Prep for Kindergarten, which runs from 
8:30 - 11:30 a.m., do not enter a class in the left-hand column before lunch.

Please remember to register your child for Extended Morning or Extended Afternoon (shown on this sheet) if your child will need to arrive early or be picked up late. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 713-468-8211 ext. 3200 or at sarah.baker@duchesne.org.