staff access page
DPSCD Summer Experience
Detroit Public Schools Community District's Summer Learning Experiences 2026 offers families and students great options for summer fun. Whether parents are seeking academic enrichment or recreational activities, current students and those enrolling for the fall of 2026 will have the opportunity to participate in academic enrichment in the morning and fun enrichment activities in the afternoon at various school and community sites throughout the City of Detroit, Monday through Friday. The enrichment will be broken into two 100-minute program blocks.
School Name: Gompers Elementary-Middle School
Address: 14450 Burt Rd, Detroit, MI 48223
Hours: 11:45 AM - 4:45 PM
# Classes Assigned: TBD
School Name: Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School
Address: 10147 W Chicago, Detroit, MI 48204
Hours: 11:45 AM - 4:45 PM
# Classes Assigned: TBD
MORE ABOUT THE school Sites
Gompers Elementary-Middle School
14450 Burt Rd, Detroit, MI 48223
(313) 494-7495
Welcome to Gompers Elementary-Middle School, a dynamic educational community serving over 800 students from Pre-K through 8th grade.
Gompers offers a supportive environment where academic achievement and personal growth go hand in hand. With a focus on character development and community engagement, the school prepares its students to thrive, succeed, and build lifelong memories on their educational journey.
Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School
10147 W Chicago, Detroit, MI 48204
Phone: (313) 417-9360
Welcome to Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School, where Pre-K through 8th-grade students thrive in a vibrant, supportive environment.
Blending cutting-edge academics with personal growth, Mackenzie offers innovative programs ranging from Accelerated Algebra and Gifted and Talented tracks to Robotics, 3-D Printing, and Virtual Reality Labs. Through diverse extracurriculars like Chess, Cheerleading, and Entrepreneur Skills, Mackenzie prepares every child to succeed and build a bright future.
Important next steps
Team Training
In addition to DPSCD-hosted paid training (June 15-18, 2026), you are invited to join us for a mandatory paid team training:
In-Person Training: June 13, 2025 (No Fear Cafe)
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location:
We kindly request that you RSVP for our team training ASAP.
Use this link to RSVP.
Order Your No Fear Cafe T-Shirts
Throughout the summer, your No Fear Cafe shirt and your DPSCD badge must be worn daily. One free shirt will be provided. Additional shirts may be purchased at a reduced rate of $10 each. Use this link to place your order ASAP!
Background Checks
DPSCD will provide Background Checks via LiveScan. Click this link to schedule your LiveScan: bit.ly/dpscdpd. Once results are received, DPSCD will contact you to report to their office at 8500 Cameron St, Detroit, MI 48211 to take your photo and be issued ID badges. The ID badge service is ONLY available on Wednesdays, 9 am-11 am OR 2 pm-4 pm. Please contact the director, Alicia McKay, if you have any issues immediately!
Incident reports
How to Handle Incidents
Check back regularly for updates.
No Fear Cafe Incident Report Form
https://www.cognitoforms.com/NoFearCafe/nofearcafesteamincidentreport
- In the event of an incident/injury:
- Immediately contact the site program director
- The adult staff member who observed the incident should write a detailed description of what occurred.
- Be sure to explicitly note if first aid was given, if there were weapons (and what type), or if the matter involved sexual misconduct.
- Description of the incident should be given directly to the DPSCD program director.
- The DPSCD program director will complete the final Qualtrics reports for the district and discuss the incident with the child’s family.
- The more we report the better, it doesn’t matter how minor it is.
Key slides from the DPSCD Training
Helpful stem Videos and Links
Additional Information
Fingerprint Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDSRMUbJpCg
Airplane (Older Age Group)
Airplane (Younger Age Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLpSxHwfU04
Helicopter Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTakrjE9yCo
Pipe Cleaner Flowers
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/pipe-cleaner-flowers-4175770
Link to Walking Water Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ryiOD_ivU
Link to tallest tower Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxrpL-Ei5N4
Link to Sink or Float Raft Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZPp7Sm4Z-w
Sink or Float Experiment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQGlQjhUguQ
Link to Strongest Bridge Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ05BSGeiM
Link to Excavation Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N99ZbAo7K7k
Dino Dig- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59iLNzFZcgg
Link to air powered car Challenge (except we are actually using toy car wheels)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzY9RH_JnL0
Link to wind sock science project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNcCvGBRdLw
About Wind Socks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFBXRkKD2tI
Suncatchers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_uADN39Mo
Penny Change
https://pbskids.org/videos/watch/sound-waves/24615
Exploring Sound
Communication Cups
https://youtu.be/PmmGSF7TXBI?si=RnRv3ZtKxxsJ_G8J
Sound Experiment on Bowl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37csXse35YQ
Example of sound movement
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=making+a+telegram+with+cups+string+paperclip
Raisins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u98bViSPyzY
Color Mixing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB1zjNlDgWw
Tinting and Shades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TraU40pTOt8
Pinwheel - the pinwheel is a kit and this is very close to the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj9grecu1v8
Making a Compass
https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/hands-on-learning-make-a-compass-2/
Rubberband Looming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJsdXU0O2Nk
Origami Bookmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEwl0fvqo18
Famous bridges
Water filtration
https://youtu.be/60Big9Ut6Mc?feature=sharedhttps://youtu.be/SbnSEJfoVOY?feature=shared
More complex catapult
Robot Hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svMXxXSEJoY
Robot hand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipw_2A2T_wg
our staff
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Alicia is the heart behind No Fear Cafe! Born and raised in Detroit, Alicia brings over 20 years of exceptional experience in leadership, business consulting, and education. With her Master's in Education, she's fiercely passionate about closing learning gaps and brightening educational opportunities across southeastern Michigan. Alicia is the brilliant founder of No Fear Cafe, The BooksmART Box, and Ready to Learn Circles, all designed to uplift and empower. She's also a dedicated community leader, currently serving as President of The Literacy Project board, always driven to help clients discover their fullest potential
Sarah DeVoe - Program Manager
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Sarah is our returning Summer Program Manager and has been a team member since 2020, bringing 10+ years of experience in management and customer service. Her passion for children and education has truly shaped her diverse roles as a para-educator, tutor, program facilitator, and lead instructor. She shares personal interests in her volunteer work, art, wildlife, and travel.
Jaylon Sifuentes - Instructor
Alicia McKay - No Fear Cafe Founder & Director
Jaylon Sifuentes - Instructor
Jaylon is a senior Games and Interactive Media major with a focus in programming. He will be a first-generation college graduate and is a proud member of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Upon graduating, Jaylon plans to pursue a career in the video game industry as an effective programmer and ethical creator.
Raha Gerami - Instructor
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Jaylon Sifuentes - Instructor
Raha is a STEM educator with an MS in chemical engineering, to the No Fear Cafe team! Raha brings a wealth of experience teaching everything from physics to engineering design, always aiming to make science fun, hands-on, and meaningful. Having immigrated to the US nine years ago and experienced the impact of helping hands, she's deeply passionate about empowering others and fostering confidence and curiosity in the next generation of STEM learners.
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Natasha holds a Master's in Human Services and a Bachelor's in Social Work/Psychology. As a Whole Family Coach and workshop provider through her LLC, Consulting by Anee, she's dedicated to educating on health, wellness, and community benevolence. She's also a spoken word artist, speaker, and mentor, applying her unique ELA and Science teaching methods (developed during nine years of homeschooling) to various groups. She loves fostering interpersonal and spiritual growth in others.
Sharvai Thomas - Instructor
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Natasha Sansom - Instructor
Sharvai is a Headstart teacher, dedicated to nurturing young minds. Beyond the classroom, Sharvai channels her creativity through sports photography and finds joy in art, music, and nature. A graduate of Wayne State, she's excited to contribute to this program.
Avian English - Instructor
Yolanda Betty
Yolanda is a certified DPSCD science teacher, and she is looking forward to seeing what this summer brings. This is also her second summer with No Fear Cafe.
