Our first Kindergarten Countdown Campers are now halfway through 1st grade! Sixteen of the children who attended KCC in the Summer of 2014 attend JE Ober Elementary School. Fifty percent of these students reached the average of their class in reading; four reached the High Average Range on Northwest Evaluation Association testing.
"We are very proud of these students, especially when considering that they were our most at-risk students coming into school as Kindergarteners. These students are scoring in the seventieth percentile compared to National Norms-meaning in a group of 100 kids, they scored better than 70 of them!" stated Tonya Weaver, Director of Administration and Innovation in the Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD.
We checked in with Kade to find out how Kindergarten Countdown Camp (KCC) made a difference for him. Mrs. Hirchak, Kade's Kindergarten teacher, said, "Kindergarten Countdown Camp was a great kick start to his Kindergarten year! I think it was a matter of being exposed to academic standards. He came in and was ready to learn!"
Kade's mom said, "He loves school and is doing great. I love all of the extra supports offered to get him started off on the right foot!"
Because of success stories like Kade and through your generosity, the United Way of DeKalb County hopes to double the number of children who attend Kindergarten Countdown Camps across the county during the Summer of 2016! We will continue to partner with leaders and educators from all three school districts to make this possible. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to begin school ready to learn and with the confidence that they CAN be successful!
Thank you for helping us give Kade and so many other children the boost they need to hit the ground running when schools open their doors in August 2016.
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