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National Summer Learning Week is finally here and these hot days are flying by fast. We’re eager to see our youngest learners continue to be engaged throughout the week and during all school breaks.
In order to do that, we collaborate with each other across NC communities to keep all children engaged, safe, and healthy every summer, returning to school set up for the most success. What used to be a one day celebration has now expanded to be the focus of this week, July 10-14, with more heightened awareness around learning loss and the “summer slide.”
Summer Learning Across NC
The National Summer Learning Association is focused on five Summer Learning Week Themes:
- Amazing Arts
- Community & Leadership
- Love of Literacy & Learning
- STEM
- Wonders of Wellness, Health & Sports
One of our shining stars of NC, Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Chatham County, NC Schools, even made a video to share his enthusiasm for why summer learning is so important for children to get a strong start when they return to school. Share his message of encouragement.
Governor Cooper proclaimed July 10-14 as Summer Learning Week in NC, a reminder that summer learning programs are proven to maintain and advance students’ academic and social and emotional growth. He called upon all students, parents, and caregivers to champion summer learning to support academic success for every child in North Carolina.
Among our NC Campaign for Grade-Level Reading communities, Read Wayne in Wayne County, NC celebrated the NC Year of the Trail for Summer Learning Week. Events took place in the Wayne County Public Library’s community garden and Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. These settings were chosen to encourage children to become stewards of the earth through exploration of the natural environment, including challenges our planet faces. Children participated in interactive, hands-on activities including creating hiking trail markers, reading about habitats for local wildlife and planting native species.
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Read Wayne collaborated with schools, community organizations, parent groups, and child care centers to promote the events to reach diverse families. To be inclusive of Wayne County’s growing Hispanic community, Read Wayne offers the Garden Program materials in both English and Spanish, and provides a Spanish-speaking interpreter.
Get the NC Early Childhood Foundation Summer Learning Toolkit
Our team at the NC Early Childhood Foundation has updated our annual Summer Learning Toolkit for our partners, program providers, educators and families to utilize. The messages for parents are available in English and Spanish.
Once you download the toolkit, you will find:
- A slide presentation with talking points for program staff to learn about the importance of summer learning and how they can contribute,
- An Action Plan template for program providers to map out tactics to engage parents every week,
- Three newsletter posts,
- 24 social media posts with photos and graphics,
- Bonus social posts promoting supporting regular school attendance,
- 24 text messages,
- Suggestions for celebrating Summer Learning Week, and
- Summer Learning Week stickers
Keep in Touch with NCEF and Support Our Work
We’d love to hear your ideas on how to continue to utilize summer learning outreach materials to support the success of all children across North Carolina. Celebrate the fun and success of every day learning with us at NCECF both this summer and all year round!
Please be sure to subscribe to our biweekly newsletter to keep up with our work helping the lives of North Carolina families, from their earliest days.
The NC Early Childhood Foundation is driven by a bold – and achievable – vision: Each North Carolina child has a strong foundation for life-long health, education, and well-being supported by a comprehensive, equitable birth-to-eight ecosystem. We build understanding, lead collaboration, and advance policies to ensure each North Carolina child is on track for lifelong success by the end of third grade.