May provides time to reflect and celebrate our first school year of the Drumm Educational Support Program. In total our Educational Support Team of teachers provided 659 hours of tutoring to students living at Drumm Farm and by the end of the year our assessments found that 73% of those students scored at their grade level benchmark. A special thank you to our dedicated teachers, Susan Bryner, Chere Semple, Chris Greenstreet and Beth Moreira, who provided first year instructional support to students both before and after school. A special thank you also goes to our families and students for their consistent participation in the program. These results are based upon a true team effort between our team of teachers, house parents, and of course, wonderful students!

Our team is already planning for the new school year and implementation of new resources to help students in reading and math. Our Drumm teachers will implement what was learned at a special training called Pathways to Reading in Holden, MO. The training week was full of helpful strategies and methods to support both beginning and fluent readers on campus.

As we transition into summer, students will have many opportunities to retain skills and concepts through our dynamic evening technology programs. Through their hard work, they will be set up for success in the fall when they head back to school! 

Rob is a graduate of MU and works for Sprint while Heather graduated from Syracuse University and works for Drumm Farm Center for Children. Rob and Heather currently have 16 kids in the house ages 11 months - 16 years old. 

"Summer must be a crazy time in a house with so many kids. What's it like keeping them busy and active?"

Its always an adventure! Fortunately at Drumm there are many places to explore and plenty of kids ready to play a pick up game of pretty much anything. We also think it is important for the kids to have chores to do every day because learning to be part of a family requires that the kids understand how to contribute and do their part to make the family and community better as a whole. Some kids work out on the farm as an extension of what they are learning at home. Work can be fun and fulfilling at the same time, then when you're done, its play time!! FIshing, bike riding, exploring the woods, building forts, playing on the playground, sidewalk chalking masterpieces....all great opportunities to make memories and build meaningful connections.  

"What are the kids' favorite time of day during the summer?" 

The kids love it anytime they can get outside and play with the neighbor kids. There are some really competitive soccer, basketball, and wiffle ball games that happen in the quad area by the playground!! Hopefully soon we will be able to play in the sprinklers and have water balloon fights!! It is really awesome that there are so many kids around to play with.  

"You recently had the kids plant some garden boxes. How are their gardens doing?"

All of this rain is really keeping those plants watered! The kids check them frequently, but we don't have any produce yet (not surprising because they've only been planted for 2 weeks!). Everyone is excited for their yellow tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers!

Saak Summer Family Tip: 

Freeze Capri Suns for an easy hot day treat!

Contact Us to see how you can be a part of the great things happening here at 

Drumm Farm Center for Children!