Community Thanks August 9, 2015

KIDS: Kids, mentors and donors make program a success

On Aug. 5, KIDS (Knowledge Independence Direction and Success) Camp concluded its second year at Fernan Elementary. The program goal for KIDS Camp is to decrease the reading summer slide for young students who are exiting first and second grade. Students were highly successful last year and preliminary results show students are similarly successful this year. After meeting twice a week for eight weeks in a literacy-rich learning environment, 92 percent of students either grew or maintained in their reading fluency; 80 percent maintained or grew in their reading accuracy (based on nationally normed reading assessments). Reading proficiency by the end of the third grade is one of the most important milestones in learning and sets the foundation for a successful academic future. Preventing the summer slide is essential in attaining grade level proficiency.

Education is a highly collaborative process. This year's success leaves us with the happy task of thanking many institutions and people who directly contributed to the success of KIDS Camp 2015.

First we must talk about the students themselves who came to us from Fernan, Bryan and Winton Elementary schools. Our students have infinite value and ability. Their happy hearts and warm smiles coupled with their natural earnest desire to learn demanded the best from us. We wish to thank each of them for the opportunity and privilege of spending time with them this summer. Additionally, our praise also goes to the parents and guardians of these fine children. Their love and concern for them was evident every day of the camp.

Further, dedicated adult mentors as well as middle and high school students served as volunteers at KIDS Camp. They gladly gave up large portions of their summers and some even gave up entire mornings of their work days to build relationships with our young students. This commitment was an indispensable and extraordinarily valuable part of our students' success, for it is through these relationships that young children grow socially and academically.

This program does not start nor successfully move forward without the support of the talented and caring staff of School District 271. Our success is their success. Lead teachers, reading specialists, math specialists and all other educators performed at the highest level of professionalism. The employees of Fernan Elementary, where KIDS Camp was held, food service, transportation and 271 Administrative staff all contributed mightily. What a team!

We especially wish to thank our many grant providers and individual donors who have seen and understood the vision of KIDS Camp. These generous folks include: The Women's Gift Alliance; The Coeur d'Alene Tribe; School District 271; Noon Rotary; Panhandle Kiwanis; Midge Smock and the Windermere Real Estate Agents; The Community Library Network at Hayden with the Book Mobile, Kaboom Nick and Karen Yother (the Idaho Librarian of the Year); The Coeur d'Alene Backpack Program and Sherri Bullock; and other community members who made personal donations to our program.

Finally, we were fortunate to have a number of experts and people of unique talents and gifts present to our students throughout the summer. These included famous children's author, our own Susan Nipp; Nick Wahl from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game; Michael Bailey an Aviation Specialist; Sarai Mays, the Native American Liaison for School District 271; Ross Welburn, Inventor/Scientist; Alicia Keller and Nick Swope from Let's Move CdA; and Beth Paragamian from Fish and Game who presented live owls to our students and owl pellets for dissection. The presenters brought fun engagement and new experiences to our program.

With appreciation,

GRETA GISSEL,

KIDS Camp Director

ANNA WILSON, Director of Title Programs School District 271