March 28, 2024

YMCA OFFERS SUMMER LEARNING LOSS PROVENTION PROGRAM

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East Providence, 6/30/2014-8/08/2014 – This summer, the YMCA of Greater Providence Newman Y in Seekonk, MA is offering a learning loss prevention program for children entering first and second grade who are most at risk of falling behind in their reading skills during the summer. The Summer Learning Loss Prevention pilot program, a national YMCA initiative, helps children read at the appropriate grade level by the third grade – a key educational milestone that is important to children’s ongoing knowledge, retention and academic performance.

Studies show that without access to summer learning activities such as camp, travel, and visits to libraries and museums, children from low-income environments may experience significantly greater learning loss than their more economically stable peers. Over time, these children continue to lose ground and by the fifth grade, many are two to three school years behind their middle- and high-income peers.

“During summer months, many youth are not as engaged in learning and reading activities as they would be while in school,” says Mike Squatrito, operations director of the Newman YMCA. “The Y’s Summer Learning Loss Prevention program will help ensure children stay on track over the summer and read at or above grade level when the new school year begins.”

The Summer Learning Loss Prevention program, modeled after the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s Y Readers program, is four days a week for six weeks. In the morning children engage in literacy work, while during the afternoon children explore different enrichment activities that include art, music, science, and physical activity. In addition, there are parent workshops to encourage reading at home. The Y is working with The Hennessey School and the East Providence School Department to identify students who would benefit from the program.

Nationally, the Y worked with nearly 1,000 children who participated in the Summer Learning Loss Prevention pilot program during the summer of 2013. Initial results show strong gains in reading skills: on average, children gained 2.4 months of reading skills in six short weeks. In addition:

•Nearly all parents/caregivers (98 %) reported that their child was “more excited to learn” and showed “increased self-confidence” ;

•99.7 % of the families believed the program helped their child do better in school;

•98 % reported that the program helped their family read more books; and

•97 % said it helped them get more engaged in their child’s education.

The Y is committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, and is addressing the academic achievement gap through pilot programs on afterschool, early learning readiness and summer learning loss prevention. The programs, which are underway in nearly 40 states across the country, are designed to not only increase success in school, but to also foster social-emotional development and physical health and well-being. As part of the national initiative, The YMCA of Greater Providence is one of 49 Y’s selected to pilot the Summer Learning Loss Prevention program.

For more information, please contact Karen Rebello at krebello@gpymca.org or visit the Newman YMCA 472 Taunton Ave Seekonk, MA 02771

The YMCA of Greater Providence is a non-profit organization serving communities in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. We are a charitable organization made up of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of every child, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. The YMCA strives to help every person live an active and healthy life. We provide community support to those who need it most, and offer financial assistance to those who wish to join the Y but cannot afford the price of membership. The YMCA of Greater Providence has nine locations throughout the area in: Barrington, Cranston, North Kingston, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, and Seekonk, Massachusetts.

YMCA, summer learning, literacy, reading

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