Duke Energy donates $10,000 for Jumpstart program . . .
The Hamilton Heights School Corporation recently received a generous grant of $10,000 from Duke Energy to help fund its Jumpstart program that took place July 16-26.
The summer literacy program, now in its third 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 30 students can participate in this interactive summer reading program that will be conducted for three hours daily for 10 days prior to the start of the school year.
Hamilton Heights Primary School Principal Julie Griffey said each student has an individualized curricular component designed around the STAR Reading, Aims Web Plus data, and Fountas and Pinnell reading benchmarks.
“This year we targeted students that had made huge progress in reading,” explained Griffey. “Our goal is to jump-start the year by reading and writing in those 10 days before school.”
“We are extremely grateful for Duke Energy’s support and commitment to our summer literacy efforts,” said Hamilton Heights Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood. “Duke Energy’s sharing of its resources and ongoing commitment to this invaluable literacy program enables us to maintain and improve reading levels for some of our youngest students.”
“Literacy is a major part of student success, it affects a student’s education in all subjects, and summer learning programs have proven to make a positive difference,” said Duke Engergy Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr. “Duke Energy is honored to do its part to help support the journey of tomorrow’s leaders through literacy programs like Jumpstart at Hamilton Heights.”
This grant is part of an approximately $400,000 investment the Duke Energy Foundation is making in summer literacy programs around the state.