Perham elementary summer school draws 94 students with hands-on fun

Perham elementary’s summer school drew 94 students in kindergarten through fourth grade, turning a June learning program into a practical service for families across the district. At Heart of the Lakes Elementary, where more than 600 preschool through fourth-grade students attend during the school year, the summer session showed that local demand for structured learning did not stop when classes ended.

Heart of the Lakes Elementary Principal Mike Kunza told the Perham-Dent School Board on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, that 94 students had registered for the program. That kind of turnout gave the effort real weight inside a district that serves just over 1,800 students across four schools, rather than making it look like a small enrichment add-on.

The appeal was not only academic. The district’s approach emphasized hands-on fun alongside skill-building, which matters for younger students who may need extra structure to stay confident in reading, math and classroom routines during the long summer break. It also gave parents a local option at a time when summer schedules often compete with family vacations, camps, sports and childcare needs.

That practical side fits closely with the broader work of Perham Area Community Education, which offers youth enrichment in science, math, art, computers, cooking and other subjects. In that setting, summer learning becomes more than a bridge back to the school year. It becomes a way to keep children engaged in real activities that still reinforce academic habits.

The district’s reach helps explain why the program matters beyond one building. Perham-Dent Public Schools sits on U.S. Highway 10 in north-central Minnesota, about 70 miles east of Fargo, and its boundaries include Perham, Dent, Richville and Ottertail, along with parts of surrounding communities. In a region where schools are central to community life, a well-attended elementary summer program reinforces the district’s role as both an academic institution and a support system for families.

For Heart of the Lakes Elementary, the summer school turnout offered a clear sign that parents value a program that keeps children learning without making summer feel like a second regular term. For the district, the numbers showed a model that combines engagement, support and continuity in a way that serves both students and the wider community.