Finding Best Friends in Afterschool
The kids in Operation Shoestring Project Rise program at Galloway Elementary are all sitting in the cafeteria in their perspective classroom sections. There’s a great buzz of activity. Some teachers are checking in their students. Others are starting tutoring sessions. And others are beginning the lesson of the afternoon.
Tonia Rounds’ 3rd graders are working on homework assigned from the school day. Kids are answering questions about trapezoids and perpendicular lines.
Among the group two little girls, Twyla Johnson and Cekeriyah Flowers stood out. They’re working so well together encouraging each other as they completed their work.
Twyla and Cekeriyah are best friends. “We’ve been in the same class for three years and we’ve been in Operation Shoestring for three years.” Twyla, the more vocal of the two, stated. Cekeriyah nodded her head, smiling.
Both girls told me they liked being in our Project Rise program because they have fun learning, playing games and working with arts and crafts.
When we began to talk about the upcoming summer camp, Cekeriyah perked up. “I’m excited about going on field trips this summer!” she exclaimed. Both girls were smiling and nodding. This will be Cekeriyah’s first year in summer camp and Twyla has told her all about what to expect.
According to the Afterschool Alliance (afterschoolalliance.org), 88% of teachers they surveyed say summer learning programs are important to their students’ success.
Operation Shoestring’s seven-week summer camp is vital for the children in our central Jackson service area. Our camps provide an outlet for creativity and learning over the summer months – a crucial time in a child’s development. Additionally, being able to have a safe place their kids to go in the summer gives our parents very valuable peace of mind.
We’re especially thankful to our summer camp supporters, like you, for investing in the success of Twyla, Cekeriyah, and all our Project Rise kids.
We all rise together.