INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Moonshot Moment Community Group, in partnership with the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), will highlight the importance of summer learning opportunities at the first annual Free Family Pajama Pizza Party on June 19, 2015 at the Heritage Center at 2140 14th Avenue in Vero Beach, FL from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The event will include free books and pizza, plus games, guest readers, and fun activities to promote summer learning and stopping the summer slide!
The event is part of National Summer Learning Day, a national advocacy day led by NSLA to elevate the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer. This year, NSLA is encouraging everyone—providers, families, businesses—to take the pledge to keep kids they know and love learning and healthy this summer so they can thrive in the school year ahead at www.SummerLearningDay.org.
The event is open to the families of Indian River County, and although the event is free, registration is required to properly order the free pizza. Register today at https://summerlearningdayfamilypajamaparty.eventbrite.com as space is limited.
Families are encouraged to come in their pajamas and to enjoy a free book, free pizza, fun games, and live entertainment. Come celebrate the joy of summer reading, with a focus on the “Flat Stanley” books that are celebrating their 50th anniversary!
Sponsors of the event include White Glove Moving and Storage, Fidelity Investments, The Heritage Center, Marine Bank and Trust, and The Learning Alliance.
“Summer Learning Day is an annual reminder that we need to keep all kids learning over the summer,” said Marie O’Brien, director of community outreach for the Moonshot Moment. “The Moonshot Moment group is dedicated to supporting student achievement throughout the summer, and our celebration on June 19 marks our commitment to that goal. We are excited to give children free (gently used) books, so that they may enjoy reading all summer long.”
Research shows that summers without quality learning opportunities put our nation’s youth at risk for falling behind, year after year, in core subjects like math and reading. The math and reading skills low-income students lose each summer are cumulative and contribute significantly to the achievement gap between lower and higher-income kids.
Low-income youth also lose access to healthy meals over the summer. Six out of every seven students who receive free and reduced-price lunches lose access to them when school lets out. And, research shows that children gain weight twice as fast over the summer compared to during the school year. Moreover, a lack of opportunity for meaningful mentorship and work experience prevents many older youth from successfully completing high school and entering post-secondary education or careers.
“Many kinds of high-quality learning opportunities during the summer can make a difference in keeping young people on track for success,” said Sarah Pitcock, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association, “these opportunities can be found in schools and community organizations, including local libraries and museums, and in businesses, colleges and community colleges. Even families can be empowered to provide high-quality summer learning to their kids at home.”
The National Summer Learning Association is the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on closing the achievement gap by increasing access to high-quality summer learning opportunities. NSLA recognizes and disseminates what works, offers expertise and support for programs and communities, and advocates for summer learning as a solution for equity and excellence in education. For more information, visit www.summerlearning.org.
