Sep·tem·ber
noun
the ninth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the first month of autumn.
As we enter a new season of changing leaves and back to school, we reflect on this past summer.
The summer months can mean a time of carefree play and outdoor adventure for young kids, but there are drawbacks to such a long break from the classroom (particularly for low-income youth, who suffer summer learning loss at a higher rate than students from higher economic levels). Over the course of six weeks, MiiR partner America SCORES Seattle put on a program called Summer of SCORES, designed to combat summer learning loss and provide low-income kids with a safe, enriching environment during the summer.
With a $5,000 grant from MiiR, 35 elementary students attended Summer of SCORES and completed nearly 100 hours of writing poetry, reading novels, playing soccer and experimenting with photography. One assignment in particular involved learning how to take a selfie and pairing it with an original poem entitled "I Am."
While maintaining the rigor of regular SCORES programming, Summer of SCORES gave students who might not otherwise be able to attend summer camp a fun and memorable summer camp experience, complete with water balloons and team building games.
Many SCORES students, eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the school year, have a more difficult time maintaining a stable and healthy diet over the summer. Summer of SCORES provided a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks for students during every program session, in addition to physical exercise.
Thanks to our partnership with America SCORES Seattle, MiiR is proud to have supported these students throughout the summer and wishes them another productive year of learning!