STARS Summer Programs 2026

Throughout July and August, STARS will be offering several exciting programs and courses for students of all ages. Please contact individual instructors for more information or to register. We hope to see you at STARS this summer!

SAT Crash Course

Rising Juniors &Seniors

Join Caiden Leavitt, a STARS coach experienced in preparing students for the new SAT, for a summer SAT prep course. Without the added distraction and pressure of high school classes and extracurricular activities, Summer is a great time for this Very helpful class. This crash course is intended to help juniors and seniors prepare for the digital SAT.

The course will cover major math concepts, reading comprehension strategies, and grammar, as well as overall test taking tips and tricks. It is planned to lead up to the August test although it is not required that students take this specific test. The goal of the course is to give students the confidence and skills both to succeed on the SAT and to study independently for future tests!

Caiden is flexible about the dates for this course, understanding that high school students have very busy summer schedules. If you would like more information or are interested in signing up for this class, email Caiden directly, caidenleavitt@gmail.com, to discuss dates and fees.

College Essay Workshop

For rising seniors

Lily Brown, a STARS writing coach who has taught literature and creative writing courses at the college level in addition to teaching high school english for many years, is offering a College Admissions Essay Workshop this summer for rising high school seniors. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to work on college essays, since students have the time, energy, and brain space to write without the pressure of other coursework. Students will work on crafting their personal essay for the Common Application or for colleges that utilize their own applications.

Students can come to the first session without any plans, ideas, or preconceived notions. The workshop will guide students through a series of brainstorming exercises meant to generate ideas for the personal statement. Later in the workshop, students will develop their topic into a compelling and well-structured essay. We’ll consult model essays, discuss the qualities of a successful essay, and develop students’ descriptive writing skills throughout the workshop. 

Once students have developed a rough draft, they will provide each other with constructive feedback, and students will revise their drafts. Time permitting, we’ll also discuss how to approach the prompts for supplemental essays, which often have a more direct approach.

Given the busy schedules of rising seniors, Lily will develop the schedule for this course based on the needs of students who register. For more information about this class or to register, contact Lily at lilylbrown@gmail.com.

Prepare for the Transition to College

For Rising College Freshmen

This class is designed for students who will be starting their college experience in the fall. The transition to college is both exciting and challenging. Executive skills coaching can provide students with the skills and strategies they need for a more successful transition.

This engaging and personalized class will be taught by Karyn Kurland, Director of STARS, and will focus on strengthening skills in organization, time management, goal setting, stress management, self-advocacy and targeted study skills. Karyn will also help students access resources at their specific college. For more information, or to register contact Karyn at karyn@stars-success.com. 

Summer Executive Function/Study Skills Class

Middle and High School Students

STARS will once again offer our “kick-off to the new school year” study skills classes. One class is designed with middle schoolers in mind and the other class focuses on the unique needs of high schoolers. The 3-day, 6-hour class will focus on strategies to organize time, materials, and information. Topics covered include goal setting/priorities, effective time management tools, efficient homework and test prep routines, notetaking and more.

The Class will be offered on August 11-13; middle schoolers will meet from 9:30-11:30am and high schoolers will meeting from 12-2pm. the class fee is $385.00, which includes a STARS time management planner, a working binder, and a home filing system. If you would like to sign up for either of these study skills classes or if you have any questions, please email eghale9@gmail.com.