Hamilton Heights School Corporation has received a generous grant of $25,257 from Duke Energy to help fund its Jumpstart program set for July 16-27.
The summer literacy program, now entering its second year, is designed for Heights students who recently completed kindergarten, first and second grades and who could benefit from a jump start for the upcoming school year. A maximum of 60 students can participate in this interactive remedial reading program that will be conducted for four-and-a-half hours for 10 days prior to the start of the school year. Student selection is based on an in-depth identification process and need for the additional reading remediation.
According to Denise Wisley, the program administrator, each student has an individualized curricular component designed around deficiencies noted in STAR Reading and Aims Web Plus data testing at the end of year of grade just completed.
“We saw great results from those students who participated last year in their ability to continue to learn more complex letter-sound relationships; improvement in their decoding and encoding skills and were able to read stories where comprehension and fluency are emphasized throughout,” continued Wisley. “Overall, these students were much more prepared for success as they entered the next grade level.”
This generous gift helps Heights to continue this great service to our students,” said Dr. Derek Arrowood, Hamilton Heights School Corporation Superintendent. “We are appreciative for Duke Energy’s sharing of its resources and ongoing commitment to this invaluable literacy program for some of our youngest students.”
“Literacy is a major part of student success, and it affects a student’s education in all subjects,” said Mark LaBarr, Duke Energy Community Relations Manager. “Developing young, successful readers can have an impact beyond the individual student and extend to the community.”
The program is one of 20 that received Duke Energy Foundation grants for summer reading initiatives. This grant is part of an approximately $400,000 investment the Duke Energy Foundation is making in summer literacy programs.