The students in the Super Kids summer program will have added opportunity and resources this year.
The Succeeding in Schools program, which Super Kids is part of, added a computer lab this year.
Director Kathern Harris said the computer lab is the result of an economic development grant made available through COVID-19 relief funds.
She said they were able to work with the Butler County Community Resource Center and Home Depot to get the lab setup.
“We used those the second semester of the year and it made a tremendous difference in keeping our students focused,” Harris said. “They know they have their academic work to do on paper and then they get to go on to other challenging things on a computer.”
The lesson of this year’s summer camp, Harris said, is respect.
“We’re trying to get the students to be more likely to get along with each other,” she said. “Not only get along, but feel that it is necessary to show respect not only to the teachers and adults, but to each other as well.”
The program is also going to include more extra-curricular activities such as art, drama, yoga and crafts.
“Those are all things that are very necessary for life, but they’re not always a part of the academic program for everyone,” Harris said. “We want to make sure they get that kind of exposure in this Super Kids camp.”
The program is focused on benefiting underprivileged kindergarten through sixth-grade students.
It is free to take part in and includes both breakfast and lunch each day.
Camp is held on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Wheatley School.
Registration for the program has opened and classes start July 7.
Harris said the program has 45 slots and the 17 students in the year-long program get first preference.
“We could recruit more staff, but for right now we don’t need to because space is limited,” she explained. “Success goes down when you have too many people and not enough space to make sure they’re all doing something that is promoting growth in the program.”
The first week of classes will include a blast-off event on Friday, which marks the end of the registration.
It will include a balloon launching event where students will attach their name to a balloon and see whose goes the farthest and whether they come back to the school.
Representatives from the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Fire Department and Corps of Engineers will also be in attendance to talk with the students, Harris said.
The program is including some additional safety protocols because of COVID-19, she said.
Organizers have received additional hand sanitizer, soaps, cleaners and disinfecting wipes.
For more information, call 573-776-5073
Posting a comment requires free registration:
Menu
