Community Volunteers Keep Terraset Kids Involved

The Terraset ES summer reading program continues to attract a big group of children each Tuesday and Thursday. It’s great to see the kids enjoying themselves… so much so, they don’t seem to realize they’re honing their academic skills at the same time. You’ll see rising kindergartners learning new board games, while several 4^th-7^th graders practice their chess strategies. At the same time, groups of kids are conversing happily while working with palydough or building Lego cranes.

Dominick Belardo shares some stretegy tips

All this activity goes on with the helpful guidance of a number of teachers and community volunteers. Gabriella Castillo of James Madison HS said with a smile “My Mom told me to come!” then quickly returned to drawing with a couple of girls as they discussed the summer and talked about their plans for the rest of the week.

Dominick Belardo, who lives in the Terraset district, heard about the program through one of his neighbors and decided to come and help. He has become very popular with several of the kids as he challenges them to games of checkers or chess!

Sachi Jain and Ana Martinez plan and play with participants

Indeed, all of the volunteers are highly sort after. Friends Ana Martinez and Sachi Jain – both students at South Lakes HS – willingly share their artistic talents with participants. The kids are writing stories or making birthday cards, whatever inspires them at the time. “Ms Trout told my Mom about this” said Ana and Sachi quickly added “So, Ana brought me here too!”

Gregory Fischer selects just the right piece of Lego

Gregory Fischer, who attends the College of William and Mary, is another volunteer. He’s been sharing his passion for logic and physics at the Lego table and at a chess board! Given his ultimate goal is life is to “win the Nobel Prize in Physics” our kids are enjoying the challenge of playing with him!

The program will continue through August 17th, so there will be plenty more opportunities for the kids to come and have fun. With breakfast available from 9-10am, the children can walk on down to the library, participate in the activities, borrow a book, and listen to a story then head back for a free lunch at 11:30am.

Summer Reading Fun!

Terraset ES Library was abuzz today for its first Summer Reading Program meeting! Over 30 kids arrived to participate. Spearheaded by Bettina Forman and Maria Newman – both specialist teachers at Terraset – the program provides an opportunity for Terraset students to keep up their reading and friendships during the long summer break.

Mrs. Newman reads with Jazmine

Thanks to Mrs. Newman and Mrs. Forman, Terraset was also selected to participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program. This means the kids can have breakfast before they join in the reading activities, and then enjoy lunch before they leave the school. “Nutrition is a key factor in summer academic retention” Mrs. Newman said. “Any child, 18 and under, can come for a free breakfast or lunch, Monday through Friday, until August 17^th.”
 

Ms Trout admires an illustration by Genesis

Today we saw over ten Terraset teachers, all volunteering their time to support participants. In addtion, there was a strong showing of high school and middle school volunteers. All around the library children were reading, playing, building and talking. Undoubtedly, they were happy to be there. Participants were also encouraged to borrow school library books so they can continue to read at home.

Mrs. Forman reads to the group

Terraset has progressively enjoyed significant improvement in Developmental Reading and Standards of Learning test results. In no small way, this can be attributed to the efforts made by Terraset teachers. Throughout the year the Terraset Leadership Team organizes in-house staff development that encourages teachers to explore effective and enjoyable ways to help students improve their reading and writing. The Summer Reading Program is another example of the efforts our teachers are making to help our kids continue to develop. Indeed... this program is so much more than that... it is evidence of how our teachers care about the "whole child". Their constant work to find ways for all students to be successful cannot go unnoticed.

The Summer Reading Program is set to run each Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 am. The Summer Food Services Program offers FREE breakfast (served 9:00-10:00) AND lunch (served 11:30-12:20), Monday to Friday. Both programs will run through August 17^th.