FHES Summer Camp 2024: Paradise of Learning
This summer, Fuse Project once again partnered with Florence Howard Elementary School (FHES) to host a summer camp aimed at addressing the summer slide. This initiative was part of our broader ABC Academic Support Program, which focuses on literacy and math remediation for students in the Avenue community. The theme for this year's camp was "Paradise of Learning," creating an engaging and enriching environment for the 103 students who attended.
Addressing the Summer Slide
Summer learning loss, or the "summer slide," refers to the academic regression students often experience during the summer months when they are not engaged in educational activities. This phenomenon can lead to significant gaps in reading and math skills, particularly for students from low-income families. As discussed in our previous blog post, Combating the Summer Slide: The Crucial Role of Summer Learning Programs, this loss is cumulative and can severely impact long-term academic performance.
The "Paradise of Learning" Camp
Our collaboration with Florence Howard Elementary School focused on providing students with targeted support to bridge these gaps. The camp featured 14 classrooms in total, with 10 classrooms dedicated to K5 through 3rd grade and 4 classrooms for 4th through 5th grade. Donated by Fuse Project and The Historic Avenue Foundation and made possible through your generous contributions, each classroom received four books based on the "Paradise of Learning" theme. These books included titles such as Aloha-Ha-Ha (Junie B. Jones), Good Night Hawaii, I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Magic Tree House - High Tide in Hawaii.
Teachers creatively integrated these books into their lesson plans, pulling out fun vocabulary words related to the paradise theme. Bulletin boards were decorated with themes like "Surfing through Math" and "Paradise of Learning," featuring surfing, hula girls, and luau imagery.
Engaging Activities and Weekly Highlights
Throughout the camp, students participated in various activities designed to keep them academically engaged and excited about learning. Some highlights included:
Color by Sum Worksheets: Students enjoyed coloring hula girl pictures based on math problems, reinforcing their math skills in a fun way.
Mini Sandboxes: In Mrs. Smith’s class, students practiced letter and number writing in mini sandboxes, combining tactile learning with academic practice.
Tropical Worksheets: Various worksheets with tropical themes were used to maintain interest and engagement.
To keep spirits high, we served Rocket Pops at the end of the second week, encouraging students to stay engaged and reminding them not to miss the end-of-camp celebration. Development Director Mary Frances Clarke interacted with students to understand what they enjoyed most. One student excitedly mentioned learning cursive, highlighting its reintroduction to the curriculum due to its importance in signatures.
End-of-Camp Celebration
The camp concluded with a fun, on-theme celebration featuring a Big Kahuna Slide, an obstacle course, and a basketball jump house provided by Bosley Inflatables. Students enjoyed snow cones in various flavors, a crafts table with coffee filter/pipe cleaner flowers, and temporary tattoos that were a big hit. The event also featured a limbo competition and a DJ playing popular dances like the “Flex” and “Cupid Shuffle”.
Activity Backpacks
As part of our commitment to making learning enjoyable, we provided students with backpacks filled with educational yet fun items. These included:
Books: Leveled readers for each grade level, with popular choices like "Dog Man," "Nate the Great," and "Go Dog Go!"
Coloring Books and Crayons: Donated by Elizabeth Crayons to keep creativity flowing at home.
Chalk, Writing Journals, and Math Flashcards: To encourage continued practice of academic skills.
Outdoor Play Items: Footballs, beach balls, bubble wands, and jump ropes to promote physical activity during the remaining summer weeks.
These backpacks aimed to foster a positive attitude towards education, helping students to develop a deeper understanding of subjects and enhancing retention.
Volunteer Shoutouts
We want to give a special thank you to our dedicated volunteers from American Equity Underwriters (AEU) as part of their “Summer of Service” campaign, former FHES Principal Mrs. Manzy and her son Christian (both a big hit with the kids), Santuan McGee, Cecily Harper, Ruth McKee, and Riley Bridges. Their involvement made a significant impact on the students.
When asked what her favorite or most rewarding part of the day was, one volunteer said, “Getting the opportunity to somewhat get to know the few kids that experienced the obstacle course, seeing their sweet smiles, catching them or helping them off the large structure, watching them race towards me to give me a high-five. It was a rewarding day.” Another volunteer stated, “Talking with the kids about the books they received”.
Why Our Investment Matters
Our investment in the Florence Howard Elementary School Summer Camp is a direct response to the critical need for addressing summer learning loss. Programs like these are essential for closing reading achievement gaps and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to start the school year on strong footing. For more insights into the importance of combating summer slide and supporting educational equity, read our blog post, “Combating the Summer Slide: The Crucial Role of Summer Learning Programs”.
For those interested in understanding the significance of summer learning, the Alabama Education Lab offers a sample of the 3rd grade reading test, highlighting the proficiency levels required for students. This sample can be an eye-opener regarding the critical need for effective summer learning programs
Can You Pass Alabama's 3rd Grade Reading Test?
When you invest in Fuse Project, you are investing in our summer camp programs. Through efforts like the "Paradise of Learning" camp, Fuse Project is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the resources and support they need to succeed academically and develop a lifelong love of learning.
