LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Thank you for your on-going support of Summit 54 and its mission to serve our Valley’s most vulnerable youth. Our work is more important now than ever before. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused school closures for children and lost wages for parents. In both of these critical areas, Summit 54’s Summer Advantage program is ready to help.
We are fully staffed and prepared to commence the FREE Summer Advantage academic, physical fitness, life enrichment and nutrition program. Additional hygiene, sanitation and social distancing measures are being developed to protect scholars and staff. Recent news reports offer hopeful signs that some measures currently in place will be lifted. We remain hopeful that regulations will allow the program to operate from June 22 – July 24. Online applications are currently available in both Spanish and English at http://www.summeradvantage.org. Parents may also call 866-924-7226 (press 2 for Spanish) to complete an application over the phone.
The economic hardship caused by Covid-19 has greatly affected many of our Valley’s middle-income families, as well as low-income families. Consequently, more parents will have limited resources for childcare and youth camps this summer. In order for parents to get back to work, they will need affordable childcare. Missed learning opportunities due to school closures makes the Summer Advantage academic support even more appealing. The FREE Summit 54 sponsored program provides the opportunity for Kindergarten through 4th grade students to receive two hours of literacy, one hour of math, nutritious meals, physical activity, and enrichment programing in a safe, fun, nurturing environment. Free bus transportation is also provided. Summit 54 partners with the Roaring Fork School District and Summer Advantage USA to provide this program in the Roaring Fork Valley.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for helping our Valley’s work force get back to work through your support of this important FREE program.
Sincerely,
Terri Caine, Executive Director
Summit 54
terri@summit54.org
SUMMER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM DATES & REGISTRATION
- FREE K – 4th grade summer learning program from JUNE 22 – JULY 24
- Reserve your child’s spot by completing the ONLINE APPLICATION: http://www.summeradvantage.org available in both English and Spanish, or call 866-924-7226 (press 2 for Spanish) to complete an application over the phone.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Romina Chissum Lagos
2nd Grade Dual Teacher with Summer Advantage
3rd Grade Bilingual Teacher at Basalt Elementary
Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Romina moved to Colorado with her family in 2013 at the age of 18. She then attended Colorado Mountain College and worked as Assistant Director for the Parent Mentor Program, part of the non-profit, Valley Settlement, where she learned about the Summer Advantage Program and thought it would be a great first step into a career in education. After her second summer as a Teacher’s Assistant for Summer Advantage, Romina attended the University of Northern Colorado, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a concentration in Culturally and Logistically Diverse Education. We are so fortunate to have Romina back with our scholars for a third summer!
How has SA influenced / helped you grow as an educator?
It has helped me understand the importance of summer programming to support the students that need it. As a teacher assistant, I was able to get to know the teaching job better and fall in love with it.
You won the Basalt Elementary School “Star Assessment” Contest for teachers last summer, achieving an average five-months gain in math and reading for your students during the five-week program. What did the nationally used assessment measure and why do you think your students were so successful?
The pre- and post-Star Assessment measures the growth of the students in math and reading from the beginning of the program to the end of the program. I think the students were successful because of the teamwork with my teaching assistant, Taylor. She did an awesome job jumping in and helping with instruction. We did a lot of small group instruction, where we rotated students in the different centers. I think this was key to the success of students. We differentiated the small groups by what the students needed and targeted different skills depending on those needs.
With all of the uncertainty and missed education for our scholars from COVID-19, what do you think will help them succeed in the next school year?
I think continuing the partnership between school and families. Community engagement is going to be key moving forward.
What is your favorite part of being involved with Summer Advantage?My favorite part about being involved with Summer Advantage is the format of the program and all the fun activities there are for students. I love the Friday field trips and the opportunities that come with them to learn and explore in a fun way!
SUMMIT 54 “FRIENDRAISER”
Thursday, August 27
5:30 – 7:30
Location TBA
ASPEN ROTARY CLUB
CARBONDALE ROTARY CLUB
ANONYMOUS GRANT
MARK & JENNIFER STYSLINGER FOUNDATION
FREEDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
GARY & LAURA LAUDER FOUNDATION
Summit 54 is participating in “Giving Tuesday Now” to help raise funds for Covid-19 related expenses in order to implement new safety and sanitation measures and keep our scholars and staff safe during the 2020 Summer Advantage Program.