LET US HEAR FROM YOU
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 19-25, 2019 13
Summer doesn’t mean
learning should stop
BY KATIE ALWYN
If kids don’t actively work
on math, science and literacy
skills in the off-months, they
risk losing educational gains
made during the year—up to
several months. This well-documented
phenomenon, often
referred to as ‘summer slide,’
is especially damaging in lowincome
neighborhoods, or
when kids are already behind
grade level.
Camp is one way to make
sure the learning continues,
like at Women’s Housing and
Economic Development Corp’s
Summer Arts Day Camp here
in the Bronx, where we reinforce
STEM and literacy
through creative activities.
Unfortunately, there are not
enough city-funded camp slots
for all families that need them.
WHEDco regularly has a waitlist
of hundreds of kids whom
we wish we had funding to support.
And of course, there are
plenty of other reasons why a
family might not have access
to camp in the summers.
The good news is that there
are lots of free ways that parents
can help prevent summer
learning loss and set kids up
for success in the school year.
It’s easier than it sounds. Every
year WHEDco shares
ideas with parents from our
afterschool program.
Here are just a few:
If they had their way, kids
might spend all summer on
the computer or playing video
games: Luckily, they can do
that while learning, with the
abundance of online, kidfriendly
coding programs,
designed to teach kids the basics
of computer languages
along with analytical skills.
We especially like Scratch,
a free program developed by
the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology for ages 6 to15 that
you can access at scratch.mit.
edu.
Join the summer reading
challenge: While your local
branch of the New York Public
Library is a great resource
all year round, their Summer
Reading challenge is an
especially fun way to motivate
kids to pick up a book,
between their ‘Read for the
Stars Game’ and lots of events.
Learn more at www.nypl.org/
summerreading2019.
Practice storytelling: Reading
stories is critical, but making
them up helps kids too!
Clip photos from magazines,
newspapers, or even coupon
inserts, and have kids pick
fi ve to tell you a story about,
in order.
Embrace everyday math:
Have your kids help you cook
— they can count out ingredients,
and use measuring cups
and spoons to help them visualize
fractions. If you buy
a treat from the ice cream
truck, ask them how much
change to expect. If they are
still practicing numbers,
have them count the steps to
your apartment.
Head to the park: The
Bronx is home to NYC’s fi rst
and third largest park (Pelham
Bay Park and Van Cortlandt
Park are both larger
than Central Park) and are
great resources. A visit to
Van Cortlandt Park’s Nature
Center can help with a summer
science fi x, and the NYC
Department of Parks & Recreation
hosts kid-friendly events
throughout the borough.
These are just a few ideas
from WHEDco, but get creative
with learning, and try
to tap into your kids’ passions.
The bonus to all these activities
is the time spent bonding
and engaging with their education—
a key factor to success
in school. With a little
effort, they’ll be prepared for
September, and beyond!
(Katie Alwyn is WHEDco’s
senior director of Education
and Youth Development.)
As Stated presents heartfelt
commentaries on Hector
Figueroa, the president of the
powerful 32BJ SEIU union,
who died at 53 years old, the
2020 Census citizen question,
a remembrance of man’s fi rst
walk on the Moon and the retirement
of NYC’s Corporate
Counsel.
Councilman Fernando
Cabrera released the following
statement regarding the
death of 32BJ president Hector
Figueroa..... I received
the news of the passing of
32BJ SEIU president Hector
Figueroa with deep sadness
and a profound sense of loss.
“Hector’s human compassion
drove him beyond the
ranks of his members to stand
with workers in other industries
for decent wages and
working conditions. Hector
Figueroa was a true hero of
working people.”
Assembly Speaker Carl
Heastie on the passing of
32BJ SEIU President Héctor
Figueroa.... Héctor spent his
career fi ghting to improve
people’s lives. In addition to
being a friend, he was a critical
partner in the progressive
policies we fought for in the Assembly
Majority, and were fi -
nally able to achieve this year.
His leadership as president
of 32BJ SEIU has put them at
the frontline fi ghting for social
and economic justice, voting
rights, immigrants’ rights
and environmental protections.
Héctor’s dedication to
labor and human rights was
unmatched.”
Senator Alessandra
Biaggi issued the following
statement on the passing
of 32BJ SEIU President Hector
Figueroa..... “Hector was
a New York titan whose legacy
is diffi cult to capture in
words. He fearlessly and willingly
stood up to anyone who
stood in the way of true progress
and change.
“His memory will forever
live on in the people who so
deeply loved him and in our
continued work to carry out
his vision for justice.”
Congressman José E.
Serrano released the following
in response to President
Trump’s Executive Action restating
efforts to use citizenship
information from other executive
branch agencies to supplement
the 2020 Census survey.....
“I am glad the President appears
to have fi nally realized
it is pointless to continue pushing
for the inclusion of a citizenship
question in the 2020
Census. This is a victory for
those of us who have fought for
the Department of Commerce
to eliminate the citizenship
question from the form, and to
ensure a fairer and more accurate
count.”
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz
commented on the 50th
anniversary of man’s fi rst walk
on the Moon..... “As a child, I
distinctly remember the awestruck
inspiration I felt as I
watched two American astronauts
become the fi rst people
to ever walk on the moon’s
surface. Our country was unifi
ed behind this incredible scientifi
c effort, and we felt like
we could accomplish anything
we set our minds to.
“With less computing power
than a modern cellphone, we
were able to send three human
beings into space, land two of
them on the moon, and return
them all home safely. This is
the mentality that we need to
have again, as we explore solutions
to climate change and
other immense challenges
that face our society.”
Assemblyman Jeffrey
Dinowitz issued the following
statement in response to the denial
of a temporary restraining
order against Dinowitz’s legislation
to repeal non-medical
exemptions to school vaccine
requirements...... “I am glad
that science has prevailed
once more and that the public
health will continue to be protected
while our judicial system
works through this lawsuit.
My legislation is not and
has never been about religion.
It is about protecting public
health.
“Those who are opposed to
vaccinations should not be allowed
to put the health of other
people’s children at risk – end
of story. Similar legislation
has been upheld in California,
and the policy has been in effect
for many years in West
Virginia and Mississippi. I
am confi dent that my legislation
will withstand this lawsuit
and our children will be
more protected from vaccinepreventable
diseases.”
A statement from Bronx
District Attorney Darcel
D. Clark on the retirement of
Corporation Counsel Zachary
W. Carter..... “His six years as
the city’s Corporation Counsel
capped a remarkable career
including U.S. Attorney
for the Eastern District of New
York, a magistrate judge in
the Eastern District, a judge
of the New York City Criminal
Court and Executive Assistant
District Attorney in
Brooklyn, as well as years in
private practice.
“Zach has been instrumental
in bringing more fairness
to the criminal justice system.
He has been a tremendous
partner with the Bronx
district attorney’s offi ce, and
I value his support and insight.”
statements
SENATOR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI
Courtesy of Senator Alessandra Biaggi’s Offi ce
oped
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