Summit54 was chosen to receive the Alpine Bank “Colorado Day — Pay it Forward” contest. Alpine Bank held the contest to celebrate Colorado Day. Lilianna Seijo won the grand prize and selected Summit54 to receive a check for $1876.00, as 1876 was the year that Colorado became a state. Seijo said, “I didn’t hesitate to choose Summit54 because I am an educator and I highly value the importance of Summit54’s educational programs for children in the Roaring Fork Valley.”
Updates
Summit54 Successfully Launched Its 10th Consecutive Year of Free Summer Learning Today for 650 Elementary Students
June 20, 2022
CONTACT: TERRI CAINE/SUMMIT54
970-618-2219
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Summit54 Summer Advantage program began on Monday, June 20th – New program site at Ross Montessori School
Summit54 and its partners, Roaring Fork School District and Ross Montessori School, welcomed 650 elementary students today for five weeks of free academic and life enrichment programming, M-F from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students from all 13 elementary schools in the Lower Valley were invited to attend the District sponsored program at Basalt Elementary School, Crystal River School and Glenwood Springs Elementary School.
New this year, Ross Montessori School is hosting a program for 100 Montessori rising first through seventh grade students. “We are thrilled to be able to offer an opportunity for children to keep learning this summer with Summit54’s sponsorship of the Summer Advantage program. These young scholars thrive when they have exposure to new ideas and lessons,” said Erin Beaudette, Director of Student Services at Ross Montessori.
Enthusiasm for the program continues to grow throughout the Valley. “We’ve had far more interest this year from families who want their children to attend the program, which is super exciting,” said Kyle-Leigh Berry, Program Manager for Crystal River Elementary School. “It is truly rewarding to be a part of this program because in the Fall, I can always tell which students attended Summer Advantage. They’re ready to move forward with new material without needing to review the prior year’s material.”
“Summer Advantage is different from the school year because alongside their in-class learning, scholars also experience learning outside of the school building, in their community during weekly field trips,” said Molly Peterson, Program Leader for Glenwood Springs Elementary School. “I think the program is successful because the teachers have fun and the students have fun while they learn through the summer.”
“One of the things that I like most about the program is the enrichment classes we have in the afternoons,” said Danielle Bailey, Program Leader for Glenwood Springs Elementary School. “Teachers teach classes they are passionate about and share their excitement with the scholars in the program. Who knows, the enrichment classes the scholars take today could spark an interest they pursue in the future.”
The award-winning Summer Advantage program has historically generated an average 2+ month gain in math and reading during the five-week program. Without access to a high-quality summer academic program, students typically regress up to three months during the long break. (White, 1906; Heyns,1978; Cooper et al, 1996; Downey et al, 2004; Alexander, Entwisle & Olson, 2007). COVID-19-related learning loss combined with the usual summer slide is expected to have ripple effects for years to come, which makes this summer’s program more important than ever.
The RFS District and Ross Montessori both provide facilities, utilities, janitorial service, computers, internet access, IT support, food service, bus transportation, and parent and teacher outreach; and both contribute approximately 10-15% of the total fee paid to Summer Advantage USA for implementing its award-winning summer academic and life enrichment program at their school sites. Summit54 raises the balance of the annual program cost from local governmental bodies, foundations, businesses and generous full-time and part-time residents.
Historically, 84% of the District scholars enrolled are Latino; 76% are English Language Learners and 74% receive free and reduced lunch during the school year. “Our mission is to help bolster academic abilities among all elementary aged children in the Lower Roaring Fork Valley,” said Terri Caine, Founder and Executive Director of Summit54. “This program is successful because kids enjoy the program and think it is fun. The morning begins with breakfast in the classroom where educators strive to develop personal connections with their students, after breakfast, all classes use Focused Kids@ for a few minutes of engaging brain exercises to let go of stress and prepare the brain to learn, then we have two hours of literacy and one hour of math. We work hard to make learning fun with interactive games and small group interactions. With two educators per classroom of no more than 22 students, we provide a great deal of personal attention to every scholar. We also have a Spanish speaking educator in every classroom. The rest of the day includes a hot healthy lunch, outdoor recess, and two afternoon enrichment programs such as art, music, drama, dance, karate, and yoga M-Th. By ending the day with enriching and entertaining activities, the children go home remembering all the fun they had. We also promote the Friday field trips all week, building excitement for the conclusion of the week and leaving scholars with fond memories to savor through the weekend.”
Although this is Summit54’s 10th consecutive year of providing FREE summer academic and life enrichment programming in the Roaring Fork Valley, it is the ninth year of Summer Advantage. During the summer of 2020, when schools were closed due to Covid, Summit54 provided programming for students in 23 unique locations using regional parks and other outdoor locations. The 501c3 also began free after-school programming in 2020/21school year to help children who had fallen behind due to Covid-related school closures and the move to on-line learning. Summit54 will continue its free after-school small group tutoring program during the 2022/23 school year.
For additional information about the Summit54 sponsored Summer Advantage program with the Roaring Fork School District and Ross Montessori School, please visit www.Summit54.org
SUMMIT54 EXPANDS ANNUAL SUMMER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM IN ROARING FORK VALLEY
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SITE AT ROSS MONTESSORI SCHOOL FOR 2022
Summit54 is pleased to announce that the 501c3 and Ross Montessori School have formed a new partnership to host the Summer Advantage program at the State Charter School campus. The new program site is anticipated to serve 100 additional students this summer, bringing the total students served each summer from 550 to 650 in the Lower Roaring Fork Valley.
“All students who live within the Roaring Fork School’s district boundaries have always been welcome to participate in the annual program, sponsored by Summit54 and Roaring Fork Schools,” explained Summit54 Executive Director Terri Caine. “Although we annually serve about 550 elementary aged children each summer, our historical participation among students who attend charter, private or parochial schools has not been as high as Summit54 would like.”
Ross Montessori Head of School Sonya Hemmen was determined to increase participation in the Summer Advantage program among her students and offered her school as an additional program site. Her idea has proven effective, as 92 Montessori students have already registered for the program compared to historical tallies of about five Montessori students per summer.
Hemmen says she was determined to provide an academic program for her students this summer because of the pandemic. “The many times we needed to isolate and quarantine took a terrible toll on our students. We are seeing some of the biggest gaps in literacy, numeracy and socialization that I’ve seen in 12 years.”
“I thought about piecing together small group Montessori tutoring, but after seeing the Summer Advantage presentation I was sold on the program,” said Hemmen. “Even though Summer Advantage is vastly different from the Montessori model, I believe it is a great idea, educationally, to give our students five weeks of additional time in a substantially different format. I want to try this as something new to give our students. I see it as an opportunity for our students to learn the same skills with different teachers and curriculum. I wanted to host our own site because our parents feel comfortable with their children in familiar surroundings with their same school bus routes.”
As testimony to Hemmen’s commitment to the Ross program, she and one other person, will be driving the Montessori school buses each day and she and their on-site principal will be making all the lunches each afternoon. “We’re all in and very excited to be able to offer additional academic and life enrichment time for our students using a different philosophy and program. Ross Montessori has always had a strong community which I believe will only be strengthened with the addition of the Summer Advantage program.”
Summit54 created a partnership with Ross Montessori based on the same model used historically with RFS. The District and Ross Montessori both provide facilities, utilities, janitorial service, computers, internet access, IT support, food service, bus transportation, and parent & teacher outreach; and both contribute approximately 10% of the total fee paid to Summer Advantage USA for implementing their award-winning program at their school sites. Summit54 contributes the balance of the program cost.
“Our mission is to help bolster academic abilities among elementary aged children in the Lower Roaring Fork Valley. If we can increase student participation within our service area by using an additional school site, we are happy to do so,” explained Caine.
Registration for the Roaring Fork Valley Summer Advantage program is open to all elementary aged children who reside within the RE-1 school district boundaries. Programs will be held at Basalt Elementary School, Crystal River Elementary School, Glenwood Springs Elementary School and Ross Montessori School. The registration deadline for the FREE five-week academic and life enrichment program is May 13th.
Student registration is available on-line at www.Summeradvantage.org in both Spanish and English. Registration is also available via phone: 1-866-924-7226 (*9 for Spanish).
Applications for teachers and teacher assistants are also available on-line at www.Summeradvantage.org.
Fall Newsletter – 2021
FREE AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING IS BACK
Summit54 launched its “Free” After-School Tutoring Program on September 13th in five Roaring Fork School District elementary schools. Summit54 began year-round tutoring during the pandemic and continues this important service to help young students regain lost ground due to school closures and the move to online learning.
This program was made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors who quickly stepped up to fulfill a match opportunity for $75,000 from the 2020 Rescue Fund. The one-hour tutoring sessions will run through December 18th on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons, immediately after school. If funds allow, the program will resume after the Holiday break and operate through the end of the school year.
2-TO-1 MATCH OPPORTUNITY:
2022 SUMMER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
We are excited to announce that Bren Simon and John & Jessica Fullerton are offering a two-to-one match opportunity (up to $100,000) to fund the 2022 Summer Advantage program.
Please click below to support this important program and triple your impact during our two-to-one match opportunity!
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER ADVANTAGE
Summit54 brought this free five-week academic and life enrichment program to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2012. The program serves more than 550 under-privileged rising 1st – 6th grade students annually in the Roaring Fork Valley at elementary schools in Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. To date, more than 6000 students have benefitted from the program. Historically 87% of our Summer Advantage scholars are Latino, 76% are English Language Learners, and 74% receive free and reduced lunch during the school year.
The Summer Advantage Program offers two nutritious meals a day, three hours of literacy and math learning, an average of two hours of physical activity, afternoon enrichment programs, and Fun-Tastic Fridays, which consist of educational field trips, college campus visits, and scholar-led community service projects. Free bus transportation is provided, which is especially important for our dual-wage earning families.
In 2021, the Food Bank of the Rockies used our school sites as food distribution centers providing ALL scholars with healthy afternoon take-home snacks and up to 14 take-home meals each week. Also new last summer, Mountain Family Health Centers staffed their health centers adjacent to our school sites making access to medical and dental care far easier for our families.
The Roaring Fork School District is our partner in providing the annual Summer Advantage program, providing three elementary school facilities, utilities, janitorial service, food service, bus transportation, communications support, and $100,000 cash each year.
The Aspen Times
Nonprofit stepping up for education during the COVID crisis. Summit54 helping kids with academics when they need it most.
April Newsletter
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.