Local Organizations Celebrate the Importance of Summer Learning at Arts, Literacy & Safety Event in Wichita

           Ubuntu Village School and Holy Savior Catholic Academy, in partnership with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), will highlight the importance of summer learning opportunities with local partners: StoryTime Village, The Wichita Griots, Performance artist Angeline Edmondson and The Wichita Fire Department on July 13, 2017 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Academy, 4640 E 15th Street North, Wichita, Kansas.

            National Summer Learning Day is an advocacy day aimed at elevating the importance of keeping all kids learning, healthy, and safe during the summer. On this day each year, the country unites in advocacy efforts and celebrations hosted by hundreds of partner organizations from libraries to parks and recreation centers and civic and non-profit groups – all to promote awareness of the importance of keeping kids healthy and engaged during the summer. This year’s goal is to reach two million youth.

            Research shows that summers without quality learning opportunities put our nation’s youth at risk for falling behind – year after year – in core subjects like math and reading. The math and reading skills low-income students lose each summer are cumulative and contribute significantly to the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income kids. A survey conducted by NSLA, indicated that two-thirds of teachers said they spend at least a month re-teaching students old material when they return from summer vacation.

            Low-income youth also lose access to healthy meals over the summer. Six out of every seven students who receive free- and reduced-price lunches lose access to them when school lets out. And, research shows that children gain weight twice as fast over the summer compared to during the school year. Moreover, a lack of opportunity for meaningful mentorship and work experience prevents many older youth from successfully completing high school and entering post-secondary education or careers. See more at Summer by the Numbers.

Event Highlights

• 10:00 a.m. – StoryTime Village (PreK-Kindergarten), Fire Truck Tour (1^st-4^th), Griots (5^th-8^th)
• 10:45 a.m. – Griots (PreK-Kindergarten), StoryTime Village (1^st-4^th), Fire Truck Tour (5^th-8^th)
• 11:30 a.m. – Fire Truck Tour (PreK-Kindergarten), Griots (1^st-4^th), StoryTime Village (5^th-8^th)
• 12:00 p.m. – Ice Cream Social
• 1:00 p.m. – Trip to the Ulrich Museum (1^st-8^th)

For more information, visit www.summerlearning.org.