Summer Success Literacy Camp debuting in Swift Current

On July 22 to August 2, All Saints and

Ecole Centennial will have 30 students back in the classroom to hit the books.

For 10 days these students, aged Kindergarten to Grade 3, will be attending the Summer Success Literacy Camps, a brand-new program to the Swift Current area. A partnership was created with

United Way Regina, Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and Chinook School

Division to help stop the ‘slide’ in literacy for children at risk by delivering literacy camps for vulnerable readers.

Research has shown that summer learning loss has a major impact over time. According to the National Summer Learning Association , this learning loss or ‘slide’ is equivalent to two months’ worth of skill loss for each summer and by the time a child is in grade 3, they will be two years or more behind in their reading compared to peers who are exposed to reading opportunities over the summer months. As these children continue falling behind through the school years, they are at risk to not graduate. This is a reality in many schools in Swift Current.

Summer Success has been achieving great results in improving literacy for Regina kids for the past four years. With the generous support of Knight Automotive

Group and an anonymous donor, United

Way was able to expand the program to

Weyburn, Moose Jaw and Swift Current, as well as increase the number of camps in Regina.

“Several years ago, the United Way of

Regina shifted much of its funding towards improving educational outcomes for young students. The Summer Success reading program was one initiative, directly aligned with the provincial educational goal of improving grade three reading levels. The camps are designed to mitigate “summer slide”, a well-researched phenomenon that describes the regression of reading skills of a vulnerable student population over the summer vacation. The camps held in previous years have demonstrated incredible stories of success for many children fortunate enough to participate. Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and Chinook School

Division are thrilled to welcome the program to the City of Swift Current and look forward sharing this wonderful opportunity with our students,” explained Sean

Chase, CEO Holy Trinity Catholic School

Division.

The program marks the first high profile addition to the community by the

United Way since the Swift Current operation was wound down.

“In December when the decision was made to centralize and close our local

United Way office, I was optimistic that over time it would open doors for better opportunities within our community.

Over the years, I’ve seen the success of

United Way’s Literacy Camps in Regina and am beyond excited to see it become available to Swift Current. This is what a new modernized United Way looks like to me: credible, quality assured, and measurable outcomes. Summer Success is exactly that,” commented Stacey

Schwartz, Literacy Coordinator Swift

Current Area (Former Executive Director of Swift Current United Way).

“At Knight Automotive we recognize the effects of the ‘summer slide’ over the school break that can cause a loss of reading progress and can have cumulative, and long-term effects. We believe that children are our future, and through this program they are provided with purposeful reading habits that can bring them into the school year with not only enhanced literacy skills, but also with confidence. With the previous success of this program in Regina we believe we can see the same in our community. We look forward to watching the success of this program here in Swift Current,” noted Jason

Dyck, General Manager, Knight Dodge.