The mercury is rising into triple digits, and swimming pools are beckoning.
But many elementary schoolchildren are diving into books instead.July means back to school for many year-round students. Most Salt Lake Valley elementary schools on year-round schedules are on multitrack systems, partly aimed at relieving overcrowding.
But single-track schools in the Salt Lake City School District hinge hopes on minimizing educational risk through continual learning.
"We've seen a definite attitude in children that school is all year long, a lifelong learning," said Superintendent Darline Robles.
Benefits boom, teachers and administrators say. Review time is minimal, academic performance increases, discipline problems drop and kids and parents get more excited about school.
"It really helps kids at risk," said Salt Lake City Board of Education President Karen Derrick. "It keeps them engaged."
The district's six year-round elementaries are highly impacted schools, or those with large numbers of at-risk students. Bennion, Franklin, Parkview, Rose Park and Whittier elementary schools begin the school year Monday. A, B and C tracks started a week ago at Meadowlark Elementary, the district's sole four-track school.
Elsewhere, children on A, B and C tracks at 24 Jordan School District elementaries start school July 28. So do those on the same tracks at 15 Granite School District elementaries.
"I love year-round schedules," said Kris Andreasen, a Title I program teacher at Bennion Elementary in the Salt Lake City District. Title I is a federally funded program in which some students leave class for one-on-one instruction.
Andreasen, who teaches reading and math to fourth- through sixth-graders, says review time is condensed to about three weeks after breaks - half the time she spent when teaching on a traditional schedule.
But scheduling is but a piece of schools' educational philosophy.
"We consistently are working toward high standards of education and incorporating parental involvement and have high expectations" for students, faculty and staff, said Dahlia Cordova, principal at Franklin Elementary, 1140 W. 400 South.
For instance, interim classes help kids retain learning and remember rules, teachers and administrators say. Such enrichments and core classes come in extended-day programs, with classes before or after school, or courses during two of the three off-weeks in fall and spring.
Some schools offer both programs, which draw hundreds of eager learners. Some are free of charge, thanks to Title I, grants and other funding.
"We are trying to become a year-round, full-service school for kids and for families," said Patti O'Keefe, principal at Whittier Elementary School, 1568 S. 300 East.
Learning spurts and breaks also benefit teachers, given time to reflect on and rebuild curriculum, teachers and administrators say. They also allow time to unwind before jumping into a new unit, help prevent burnout and decrease absenteeism.
"Teachers say that January is the nicest time to teach," because kids return from Christmas break ready to learn, said Sue Harmon, who teaches fifth- and sixth-graders at Whittier. "We have that every quarter."
Drawbacks to the single-track, year-round schedule appear to be few and manageable. Some teachers feel rushed to prepare for a new year in five weeks. Administrators can feel rushed in hiring new staff in summer weeks.
Motorists need to be warned that children will be crossing streets on the way to school, Derrick said. She fears most drivers expect to see walking students in September, not mid-July.
Anne Greene, a second-grade teacher at Parkview, 1250 W. Mead Ave., praises single-track year-round schedules. But she says she misses spending summertime with her two children who are secondary school students on traditional school calendars.
Colleen McKnight, parent of a Parkview Elementary fifth-grader and two secondary school students, says scheduling family time can be difficult in summer months. Sometimes kids can't take advantage of full summer programs such as soccer, and vacations can be difficult to arrange.
But pains also can be perks. For instance, the McKnights can plan vacations in October when the rest of the world is in school and resorts offer off-season discounts.
Some parents - working and stay-at-home - place children on different tracks so they can spend individual, quality time with each during three-week breaks, said principal Lew Gardiner of Meadowlark, 497 Morton Drive, where parents can choose tracks for schedules or teachers.
Parents in the site-based school district, which involves parents in decision-making, also voted on whether their schools would go year-round. Ten years ago, they voted to make Whittier the district's premiere year-round school, O'Keefe said. Those opposed to year-round scheduling were allowed to send students to Riley Elementary, 1431 S. 900 West.
Three teachers who voted for year-round transferred, citing family scheduling conflicts, Harmon said. But others lined up outside school doors.
Principal Rosanne Jackson of Rose Park Elementary says year-round is a great way to go.
"There is no reason to be off all summer. We are not longer an agricultural community," Jackson said. Kids in the past were needed to help farm in summer months. "We need to be in school more, anyway."
Parents apparently feel the same way. Of Parkview parents responding to a survey two years ago, some 95 percent said they would not return to a traditional school schedule, said principal Marietta Barton.
Some California schools have gone year-round in grades K-12, Gardiner said. But such arrangements for secondary schools may pose problems, as schools cannot hire a calculus teacher for six students per track or play with half an athletic team.
Traditional schedules also have their perks, said Gardiner, who views schedules as a different-strokes-for-different-folks issue.
"There are advantages both ways," Gardiner said. "It is not black-and-white or yes-and-no question. Instead of a political decision, it should be made in the best interest of kids."