Summer Program Success

We are entering the final week of our 2012 summer program for refugee children in elementary school. Time sure has flown by! We have been working with two great ESL teachers and 9 wonderful volunteers to help 28 newly-arrived refugee children develop their English and Math skills. Our hope is to prepare these children for school in the fall. But we don't just focus on academic instruction--we have fun too! Last week we even took a field trip to the zoo. 

During each week of the program we have focused on a different ecosystem to start conversations. So far we have discussed mountains, deserts, oceans, and grasslands. With each unit the children have learned different songs, read books and made art projects. A volunteer even came in to make paper bag puppets featuring animals from these ecosystems When we went to the Oregon Zoo we were able to show the children some of the animals they had been studying.

After lunch every day, we take the children outside to play on the playground, to jump ropes, and to participate in different organized sports (soccer is especially popular with the older kids). By now, every child knows enough English to ask a teacher for a push on the swing! Some days we have even done fun science projects (lots of foam and food coloring) with the older children.

All of the children seem really excited to start class each morning--for some of these children, it is their first time to ever attend school. Our volunteers have been a critical part of the program. With their help we are able to give each child individual attention to help them become accustomed to the idea of school rules and classroom instruction or to maintain what they have already learned in school earlier this year. It has been astonishing to see how much each child has improved in just the four weeks since the summer program began.

It will be tough to say bye to these children but it is great knowing that they are more ready to re-enter or begin school in the United States. Our summer program ends Thursday and we will be closing with a short talent show and an awards ceremony (which parents will be able to attend). Thanks again to our great teachers and volunteers who have made this program possible--we couldn't have done it without you!