From: "Lo Hutelmyer" <lhutelmyer@ventureoutdoors.org>
Date: Sep 13, 2016 12:34 PM
Subject: Fwd: An American Ascent: Join us on September 17th!
To: "Mark Rauterkus" <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>
Cc:
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As fit citizens, neighbors and running mates, we are tyranny fighters, water-game professionals, WPIAL and PIAA bound, wiki instigators, sports fans, liberty lovers, world travelers, non-credentialed Olympic photographers, UU netizens, church goers, open source boosters, school advocates, South Siders, retired and not, swim coaches, water polo players, ex-publishers and polar bear swimmers, N@.
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Dear Colleague,
Your organization has played an important part in Summer Dreamers, giving Pittsburgh Public Schools students unique learning experiences that help to expand their horizons and build on the lessons of the classroom.
So we wanted to let you know right away - this morning, The Wallace Foundation and The RAND Corporation released the latest findings from the National Summer Learning Project, the groundbreaking study launched in 2011 in which Pittsburgh and four other districts played an essential role.
We're excited to report the key research findings, which confirm what we've always suspected: voluntary summer learning programs operated by public school districts can improve the knowledge and skills that students need to succeed in school; and, high attendance is crucial to delivering benefits.
The study analyzed outcomes for nearly 3,200 students nationwide, including many from Summer Dreamers, all of whom were in the 3rd grade in the spring of 2013. They were selected to participate in summer learning programs in summer 2013 and summer 2014. The findings released today show that high-attenders benefited in math after one summer, and benefited in math and reading after the second summer. The benefits after the second summer were equivalent to between 20-25 percent of a year's learning in math and reading. (These new findings build on earlier findings released late in 2014, which showed gains in math after the first summer among the group of all students offered access to the program.)
THANK YOU for your hard work and involvement in Summer Dreamers, and for your contributions towards these outcomes. You and your staff played a key role in these results! We appreciate all that you have done to ensure that our students benefit from a high quality summer learning experience.
You can learn more and read the entire report, Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth at www.wallacefoundation.org/
Attached below is a draft of some content you can post on your website, and be sure that you are following @WallaceFdn, @RANDCorporation, @PPSnews, and using #pghsummer16 and #learningfromsummer to share this great news!
Wishing you the best as you kick off a new school year,
The Summer Dreamers Academy Team
James Doyle, Coordinator of Out-of-School Time
Kristen Frankovich, Program Assistant, Out-of-School Time Operations & Logistics
Tylor Hart, Program Assistant, Out-of-School Time Data, Evaluation & Partnerships
Asia Mason, Program Assistant, Out-of-School Time Curriculum & Programming
Christine Cray, Director, Student Services Reforms
Summer Dreamers AcaDemy
341 S. Bellefield Ave, Rm 426, Pittsburgh, pa 15213
412-529-2454 (W) | 412-224-4904 (F) | summerdreamers@pghboe.net
http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/
Suggested Website Content for "Learning From Summer" Release
Students who Show Up for Summer Learning Benefit, New Study Finds
Elementary school students with high attendance at public school summer learning programs benefit in math and reading, according to a new national study. High attendance was defined as at least 20 days of a 5-6 week program.
Pittsburgh Public Schools was one of five urban school districts taking part in the study, which was conducted by The RAND Corporation and supported by The Wallace Foundation. [Name of organization] was a partner, [description of enrichment activity/partnership].
The study is the largest ever conducted of summer learning programs. Results are based on an analysis of outcomes for nearly 3,200 students nationwide. The benefits for high-attending students after the second summer are equal to about 20 to 25 percent of typical annual gains in math and reading. There is also evidence that students benefit in social and emotional skills, as well, though the researchers cannot be as confident that these benefits are most likely due to the program.
This study, published in the new RAND report, Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Programs on Low-Income Youth www.wallacefoundation.org/
Twitter Posts
1. @WallaceFdn and @RANDCorporation just released their new report on #summerlearning #learningfromsummer wallacefoundation.org/
2. Read about how we contributed to the largest and most comprehensive study on summer learning ever! @PPSNews wallacefoundation.org/
3. Summer learning: Kids with high attendance did better in math and reading #learningfromsummer wallacefoundation.org/
4. High attendance in 5-6 week summer learning programs benefited students in math and reading #learningfromsummer wallacefoundation.org/
5. Kids who attended 20+ days of summer learning pgrms benefitted in math and reading #learningfromsummer wallacefoundation.org/
6. High attendance in summer learning programs = benefits in math, reading for your student #learningfromsummer wallacefoundation.org/
7. #learningfromsummer: Kids who attend more thrive more. wallacefoundation.org/
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PLEASE JOIN US this Friday, August 12th, 3:00 pm at 5321 Penn Avenue to celebrate the summer achievements of youth in our community.
These achievements include:
· 170+ young adults successfully completed a summer Learn and Earn internship at local businesses and summer camps in the area,
· 22 high school students earned college credits in the Carlow Summer College Program,
· 3 young adults led financial literacy trainings for 100+ students thanks to support from Citizens Bank
· 100+ students recovered failed high school credits to get back on the path to graduating on time,
· and MUCH MORE.
This is a great OPPORTUNITY to hear positive testimony from youth who participated in these programs. We will also have free food and music.
This is also an opportunity to thank the sponsors and partners who made these programs happen, including: 3 Rivers Workforce Investment Board, City of Pittsburgh—Pittsburgh Partnership, Neighborhood Learning Alliance, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Citizens Bank, Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center, Allegheny County, and the 70+ businesses and organizations that hosted summer learn and earn interns!
Sincerely,
Rick Flanagan
Youth Development Director
Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation
Dear Michael:
I hope you are having a great summer with family friends and AAU activities! This is Kevin McCarthy with SKWIM International and SKWIM USA. I am reaching out to you today in the wake of several local North West youth drownings this summer, to open a dialogue with you about the AAU and regarding the new and growing water-sports game entitled SKWIM.
SKWIM™ (pronounced like 'swim' but with the added 'k', 'skwim') is an internationally growing 8-year old water-disk sports game for the whole family and all of the community. The game dynamic and equipment allows the activity to be enjoyed from ages 5 to 95. SKWIM is played in both shallow and deeper water, both recreationally and competitively, and by beginning, intermediate and advanced swimmers. SKWIM is the very first water sport game to invite all ages and abilities to participate despite their ability or inability to swim, and therefore has the growing potential to quickly become the most widely played and enjoyed water activity ever. SKWIM programming includes learn-to-swim, open water safety and lifesaving curriculum and is coached by certified lifeguards.
I am reaching out to you in this 'Olympic' season because I want to learn more about the AAU and any interest the AAU might have locally and nationally in helping to enhance water safety through game play. Unlike any other physical activity, swimming provides simultaneous full-body exercise and therapy. Also unlike any other physical activity, water exposure takes the lives of thousands each year in the USA and hundreds of thousands internationally. SKWIM USA was founded in 2010 as a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to significantly reduce the drowning rate in the USA and to also help curb the international drowning rate, by offering an engaging and interactive team game that both teaches and certifies youth and adults in water safety and lifesaving aquatic skills.
The game of SKWIM promotes swimming, communication and teamwork within an exciting and engaging structure, while encouraging individual self-expression and style. SKWIM shares the vital success traits of soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, football, hockey and cricket, which are globally the most popular sports activities for participation and for spectatorship – and all interactive team games.
THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF INTERACTIVE SPORTS GAMES
Games provide the vast majority of player, spectator, media, retail, wholesale, commercial, and fan engagement, of all the athletic and physical activities.
1) An implement for passing to teammates and scoring (a soft SKWIM Disk)
2) Interactive Strategic Team Play (The SKWIM Disk is played on the water)
3) A Score zone or goal for each team (enhanced by 360-degree scoring in SKWIM)
4) Personalized Uniforms and or headwear (SKWIM Team Headbands, Jerseys with numbers and names)
5) Specialized Footwear (PDF SKWIM Fins which increase speed, maneuverability and safety in open-water)
6) Lifetime and Generational Play (SKWIM Starts at age 5 and is easily played into late senior years)
SKWIM is the first game to feature all of these elements in aquatic play. SKWIM is governed by the nonprofits SKWIM USA and SKWIM international. The game equipment is distributed by the international lifesaving brand eLifeguard in Florida. I hope the AAU might find this game to be a great match for its mission in the water, and that we can explore ways to help youth find water safety, fitness, and aquatic team play. SKWIM is developing cooperative relationships with the Red Cross, USLA, USA Swimming, U.S. Aquatics Sports, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, JCC, CYO, Special Olympics and Diversity in Aquatics. We hope to build a relationship also with the AAU for 2017 play.
Michael, if you would like to join in on a recreational SKWIM game, you are invited any Friday evening to join in at the Evans Pool Green Lake- Seattle at 6:45pm, which hosts a family SKWIM game for all ages!
Hope to see you there!
Play SKWIM,
Coach Kevin I. McCarthy
SKWIM® Global Development
Cell 1 - 425-802-2167 (USA)
Address: 1125 205th Avenue NE
Sammamish WA 98074-6654 USA
Transform your pool, your community, and public safety with SKWIM® game play!
- RESPONSE - ENDURANCE - DISTANCE -
International SKWIM® Certification
Water Safety, Spirit and Sportsmanship through SKWIM® Game Play
SKWIM® USA is a 501c3 non-profit