CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – While summer break gives students time away from the classroom, it can also mean weeks without reading.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Community School Director Crystal Johnson said the goal is to help students continue building their literacy skills during the summer months.<\/p>\n
\u201cReading is important. If you cannot read on level, that disqualifies you from everything,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a lot of positive feedback from last year,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cParents were excited that their kids got to tutor, and they didn\u2019t lose what they normally lose over the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the summer program is a major focus, Johnson said City of Promise views literacy as a year-round effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiteracy does not just end in the summer,\u201d she said. \u201cWe continue our literacy program throughout the school year as well, and we\u2019re always looking for volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
City of Promise says community members interested in supporting its literacy efforts can volunteer throughout the year.<\/p>\n