CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – While summer break gives students time away from the classroom, it can also mean weeks without reading.
For the second summer in a row, City of Promise is working to change that through its six-week summer literacy program, which pairs daily reading instruction with YMCA summer camp for elementary school students.
Community School Director Crystal Johnson said the goal is to help students continue building their literacy skills during the summer months.
“Reading is important. If you cannot read on level, that disqualifies you from everything,” Johnson said.
The program gives students literacy tutoring each morning before they spend the rest of the day at YMCA summer camp, allowing them to continue learning while school is out.
This marks the second year of the program. Johnson said the decision to bring it back was driven by the response from families who participated last summer.
“We had a lot of positive feedback from last year,” Johnson said. “Parents were excited that their kids got to tutor, and they didn’t lose what they normally lose over the summer.”
While the summer program is a major focus, Johnson said City of Promise views literacy as a year-round effort.
“Literacy does not just end in the summer,” she said. “We continue our literacy program throughout the school year as well, and we’re always looking for volunteers.”
City of Promise says community members interested in supporting its literacy efforts can volunteer throughout the year.
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