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July 23
2010
Schenectady
SSCCORE program recognizes
National Summer Learning Day
Schenectady Superintendent John Yagielski welcomes
SSCCORRE camp partners to the Summer Learning Day
held in the Central Park Pavilion July 23. |
State, county,
city & school leaders come together to raise awareness of the
importance of summer academic programs
Schenectady Mayor
Brian U. Stratton, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County
Legislature Susan Savage and Cora Schroeter, Constituent
Representative for Congressman Paul D. Tonko joined Schenectady
City School District Superintendent John Yagielski and the
Schenectady Schools County City Outreach Recreation and
Education (SSCCORE) program directors for Summer Learning Day on
July 23, 2010 in Schenectady’s Central Park.
Schenectady Summer
Learning Day is a national event that focuses attention on the
importance of quality summer learning programs which prove to
help advance academic growth and close the achievement gap.
The event is also to recognize and celebrate community
partnerships who share resources so that all children can
participate in summer programs.
Schenectady County Legislature Susan Savage, Cora
Schroeter, Constituent Representative for
Congressman Paul D. Tonko & Schenectady Mayor
Brian U. Stratton. |
The SSCCORE Summer
Camp, which is currently underway in Schenectady’s Central Park,
is an example of a community collaboration that delivers a high
quality summer learning program and is free and available to all
children in Schenectady.
“Congratulations to the Schenectady
School District and it’s partners for providing high quality
learning opportunities for disadvantaged youth,” said
Congressman Paul Tonko. “Summer learning programs are important
investments in our children that keep them engaged in learning
activities so they don’t lose ground academically.”
“Schenectady
County is proud to join with the Schenectady City School
District, the City of Schenectady, and all of our partners to
promote summer learning activities,” said Susan E. Savage,
Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “By working
together, we are able to provide a safe place for our children
to go during the summer months while making summer learning
fun.”
Lori
McKenna, Co-Director of the SSCCORE program spoke
about the program activities and gave a run down of
a typical day at camp. |
“The positive
partnership between the city, county and school district
illustrates that cooperative action gets results,” said
Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton.
Schenectady County
Youth Bureau, the City of Schenectady, Schenectady Job Training
Agency (SJTA) and the Schenectady City School District have
combined resources to provide a six-week summer program to
children 8-13 years of age who attend Schenectady City Schools.
This year the program began July 6 and runs through August 13.
Each camper is transported to and from Central Park and
provided with breakfast and lunch.
 Campers
not only enjoy an array of recreational activities but also
benefit from a daily academic component. Educational
classrooms are set-up inside the pavilion each day for 45-minute
academic lessons which include math, reading, science and
technology. The classes are taught by two certified teachers.
“Knowing that the
students are on summer vacation, we try to make each lesson fun
and cover high interest topics,” said Amanda Adamo, a teacher at
the SSCCORE camp. “We try to get the students moving while
engaging them in English Language Arts and math activities. As
a teacher in the district I see the importance of students
participating in the SSCCORE summer camp and reading and writing
each day.”
 Kim
Bushey, also a teacher at the camp, said the program also
focuses on student behavior and like the PBIS policy that is
followed in the schools, students are awarded for positive
actions. Rewards include gold stars, special lunch privileges
and various raffles held throughout the six weeks.
“As a teacher,
this program allows me to cover a variety of topics at various
grade levels that teachers might not be able to address
throughout the school year.” Bushey said the topics and lessons
are based on the New York State Standards. “This allows
students to maintain academic structure throughout the summer,”
said Bushey. “The program also allows students to gain
friendships with other students in the Schenectady community.”
Among the many
recreational, developmental and self-expression programs and
activities are a fine arts program, golf program, tennis lessons
and swimming lessons. Students can also participate in free
swim, paddle boat and fish. Other partners include the Liberty
Partnership Program (LPP), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Safe
Schools Healthy Students grant program, all providing lessons
and sessions designed to promote healthy development and provide
students with life skills and resources. Members of the
Schenectady Fire Department join campers each Friday for a camp
barbecue.
 “This
program provides an opportunity for our children to be involved
in learning activities over the summer. They enjoy
recreational time, participate in special programs but most
importantly work with teachers on academics,” said Lori McKenna,
Federal and State Programs Director for the school district and
Co-Director of the SSCCORE Camp. “The key to the program is
mixing the academic enrichment component with the recreational
activities. The combination keeps their minds and bodies
healthy.”
 McKenna
stressed that it is important for the city’s students to have
this opportunity. “Many would otherwise not be attending summer
programs,” said McKenna. “Our teachers can see the impact that
a program like this has on students when they return to school
in the fall. This collaboration makes this important
opportunity possible.”
Research shows
that without effective summer learning opportunities:
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Most students
fall more than two months behind in math over the summer.
-
Low-income
children fall behind two to three months in reading each
summer, while their middle and upper-income peers make
slight gains.
-
By the end of
fifth grade, lower-income children can be nearly three years
behind their higher-income peers in reading.
The SSCCORE
program began the summer of 2008 and served 50 children. In just
three years, the program has grown to include 130 students.
Since the program has proven to significantly impact student
achievement and continues to draw increasing interest of
Schenectady families, the camp was expanded to include 13 year
olds this year.
Summer Learning
Day is sponsored by the National Summer Learning Association.
It’s an annual event in which programs across the country
showcase their work and highlight the risks of summer learning
loss. Summer Learning Day has grown from a handful of events in
2004, to more than 500 in 49 states in 2009.
Helpful Links:
www.summerlearning.org
www.afterschoolalliance.org
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