The students enrolled in the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program have had guest educators, taken study trips and have continued to tend to their vegetable garden.
The LUM 5th Quarter staff members have the children for five days a week, up to 12 hours a day. The LUM teachers and program director work hard to keep the students engaged in fun, experiential learning all day long. This year those programs have been as follows:
Science – Imagination Station – Study Trip
Science – Soilmaker – Study Trip
Science – SillySafari with Amazon John – Library – Study Trip
Science & Nutrition – LUM Garden Project – On site program
Science – Art, Crafts & 4D Science – On site program
Science – Magic School Bus Science (Elmwood Youth) – On site program
Reading & Writing – Purdue College of Education – On site program
Reading – Rockin’ Readers Theatre – Library – Study Trip
Reading – Summer Reading – Library – Study Trip
Reading – Friday Visits to the Youth Room – Library – Study Trip
Music – Classical Composers & the Waltz – Derrick Williams-Bacon – On site program
Music & Fitness – Fiddle ‘N’ Feet, Library – Study Trip
Art – Clay Art – Gail Johnson – On site program
Fitness & Dance – Van Underwood Stokes, Dancer – On site program
Nutrition & Fitness – Series (7 weeks) of Interactive Programs – Tammy Martin, CATCH Program – On site program
Magic – Rusty Ammerman’s Dimension of Illusion – Library – Study Trip
To view PHOTOS from some of these exciting programs, click HERE.
If you would like to invest in our summer students, please make a donation today (click below). If you or your group wishes to volunteer — or sponsor an event or study trip for LUM students, please email or call Amanda Bajzatt, LUM Youth Programs Director (abajzatt@lumserve.org | 765-423-2691).
When elementary students return to school in August, many of them — especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds — will be starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of their summer break.
This phenomenon, often referred to as summer learning loss, summer setback, or summer slide, has been a long-time concern for us at LUM. If quality education is a child’s ticket out of a life of poverty, too many of those we serve are being left behind at the station. Educational research offers a “faucet theory” for why lower-income students lose learning in math, science and reading over the summer. According to the theory, the “resource faucet” is on for all students during the school year, enabling all students to make learning gains.
Over the summer however, the flow of resources slows to a trickle for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their more affluent peers continue to have access to financial and human capital, such as parental education and involvement, which enables them to continue to learn. That’s why the Lafayette Urban Ministry has been so committed to our5th Quarter Summer Learning Retention Program. The program is held Monday through Friday, from June 1st through August 10th, at Central Presbyterian Church’s education building in downtown Lafayette. This summer, LUM has enrolled more than 50 children.
Each day begins with a nutritious snack, recreational reading and a fun gathering session for our students, teachers and volunteers. Then it is on to learning groups in math, science, social studies and language arts. Each subject is taught through a combination of classroom and online study. There are weekly field trips to the public library, Purdue University and other locations where our students learn and experience new things. We have scheduled a full summer of engaging speakers and enrichment activities that make learning at 5th Quarter fun.
Last week, we combined reading about Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner with audio samples of their compositions (pictured above). In partnership with Purdue Extension, our students have planted and are tending a summer flower and vegetable garden. This year, the LUM 5th Quarter staff has partnered with faculty and students from the Purdue College of Education to enhance our curricula and boost the quality of our students’ learning.
I am so pleased with the quality of the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program. I am encouraged by the positive feedback we have received from the children’s parents and classroom teachers. More than anything else, I am proud of the accomplishments of our 5th Quarter students….
Like 8 year-old Isaiah, whose mom is incarcerated this summer serving an addiction-related sentence. He is excelling in multiplication.
Like Crystal & Jeremy who live with their grandma. She works each weekday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a maid for a Lafayette hotel just to make ends meet. They enjoy D.E.A.R. time – Drop Everything and Read!
Like 9 year-old Da’Ron who was able to pass his ISTEP re-test because of remediation that took place at LUM 5th Quarter.
It is costing LUM $31,416 to operate 5th Quarter this summer. Included in that amount are four teachers, our online learning software, program supplies, snacks and transportation to field trips. I am hoping you will join with me in helping to offset those costs.
Please, won’t you consider a generous gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, or more, to 5th Quarter? Your support will help LUM to continue to offer this remarkable program that has proven so effective in reversing the summer learning slide for vulnerable children.
Give a child a ticket to a brighter future. Join me today in making a generous gift to the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program.
PS: Interested in viewing 5th Quarter in action? Call me anytime prior to July 31 to arrange a visit (765-423-2691).
Recently a mom poked her head into my office to share her worry and concern over her eight-year-old daughter’s ISTEP score in reading. “Unless she does significantly better on her re-test in June, the school has said they will have to hold her back.”
Mom was frustrated that her 60 hours per week, swing-shift schedule keeps her from spending as much time supervising her daughter’s homework as she would like. She knew that having to repeat a grade could have a significant social and emotional impact on her daughter as well.
“Is there anything LUM can do to help?”
As it just so happened, the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program was about to begin for the summer. We enrolled her daughter and immediately rolled up our sleeves. Everyday while mom was at work, her daughter came to LUM to learn.
We were able to enlist the help of two dedicated volunteers who spent hour after hour with the girl to help her read book after book. As the days passed, you could literally hear the child’s vocabulary improve and see the growth in her reading comprehension. More than anything, you could feel the girl’s pride and confidence in her growing accomplishment.
The LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program is held Monday through Friday, during the summer months, in the First Christian Church education building in downtown Lafayette. This summer we have enrolled more than 50 children.
Each day begins with a nutritious snack, recreational reading and a fun gathering session for our students, teachers and volunteers. Then it is on to learning in math, science and social studies. Each of these subjects is taught through a combination of classroom and online study. There are weekly field trips to the public library, Purdue University, or to other locations where our students learn and experience new things.
Our pre- and post-testing indicates that the LUM5th Quarter students retain more of the knowledge they learned in school and are better-prepared to enter the next grade level in August when compared to a control group of children who did not participate in our program!
I am so pleased with the work of the LUM 5th Quarter teaching staff and volunteers. I am encouraged by the positive feedback LUM has received from the children’s parents and classroom teachers. More than anything else, I am proud of the accomplishments of our 5th Quarter students.
It will cost LUM $29,000 to operate 5th Quarter this summer. Included in that cost are four teachers, our online learning software, program supplies, snacks and transportation to field trips.
While 5th Quarter parents do contribute a small weekly fee for their children to attend, in order to keep the program affordable for those who need it most, Lafayette Urban Ministry must heavily subsidize the program’s costs.
That’s why I hope you will join me in sharing a generous contribution so that the LUM 5th Quarter Program can continue. Your gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, or more, will help LUM to continue to offer this program that has shown such remarkable results in the lives of at-risk children.
Just last week, our eight-year old reader’s mom stopped in to see me again. She shared the wonderful news that her daughter had indeed passed her ISTEP re-test in reading – by 50 points! You could feel the pride and hear the relief in her voice.
“The 5th Quarter teachers and volunteers have been such a Godsend,” she said. “They have given my daughter the gift of a brighter future. I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for all that LUM has done for her.”
Please, won’t you give a child the gift of a brighter future? Place your check in the enclosed envelope and mail it today. If you prefer, you can give online at www.lumserve.org.
PS: Interested in viewing 5th Quarter in action? Call me anytime prior to July 31 to arrange a visit (765-423-2691).
The students enrolled in the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program have had guest educators, taken study trips and have continued to tend to their vegetable garden.
