For many of us, summer break means long, warm days filled with sunshine and fun. But for a lot of Bay Area children and youth, it’s a time when much-needed opportunities for learning, adult connection and daily structure are lost.
Summer is a time to level the playing field through high-quality programs that produce measurable benefits in math, reading, and social-emotional learning. Being offered expanded learning programs in the summer can increase a child's GPA and academic performance during the school year.
This week the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) launched the National Summer Learning Week, #nationalsummerlearning. This is a week-long celebration dedicated “to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer, and ensuring they return to school ready to succeed in the year”. The NSLA shares the power of summer learning through five unique themes.
Fostering Friendships
The pandemic’s impact on youth has been startling, and the U.S. Surgeon General has raised a flag on young people’s mental health. The science of learning and development tells us that relationships are key for addressing trauma and helping kids thrive. Forging and fostering friendships over the summer can lead to limitless opportunities and cherished memories for young people.
Love of Literacy & Learning
Reading is fun! It’s also critical to a child’s success in school, and in life. Empower children to immerse themselves in a literary adventure. It can take place anywhere, under a tree, in a makeshift tent, or in a child’s favorite nook. Let imaginations run wild with amazing stories this summer.
Wonders of Wellness
Healthy bodies and healthy minds go hand-in-hand when it comes to learning. Summer is the perfect time to get children on their feet, moving, and eating healthy. What’s even better? Studies have found that elements of wellness, such as hope and gratitude, improve academic performance!
Summer Skill-Building
Ready, Set, Succeed! Support a student in charting their course for success during and beyond high school. A summer job, internship, mentorship, or plan to pursue higher education, sets our future leaders on a path to change the world.
Amazing Arts
Research confirms that the arts prepare students for school, life, and the workplace. With the right plan, summer can be the perfect canvas for creativity and self-expression through music, literature, dance, theater, visual arts, and more. Spark the imagination this summer to unlock the power of amazing arts.
There is no shortage of amazing adventures happening at Summer Learning Programs throughout the Bay Area! We are excited to recognize some of the #summerlearning taking place at our partner sites.
"Hoover, AP Giannini and Lawton have a combined summer programs hosted at Hoover. We have a pair of High School Interns that documented and created a montage video of what we have been doing during the summer."
Sherman Elementary in San Francisco and Marin ASP share some of their summer highlights.