School’s out, school’s out…but over the summer break very young students –

especially those who may be struggling – can lose some of those important `readin’, `ritin’ and ‘rithmetic.

For the third year, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Curtice is hosting a summer tutoring program for Jerusalem Elementary School students in kindergarten through second grade. Four sessions are offered; students meet once a week for six weeks.

Seventeen volunteers, including church members and other concerned volunteers, are donating their time to help the community’s littlest learners be successful in school.

“We’re not a large church,” Sheron Baumgartner, a former Oregon City Schools Board member and a member of St. Luke’s, who oversees the program. “But we felt this was something that we could do to help kids who need a little extra support to be successful in school.

“It’s especially important for these students because in the last two years, Jerusalem Elementary lost its Title I funding, which means they lost a reading teacher,” she said. “That’s a big loss.”

“We don’t pretend to be a summer school program,” Baumgartner said. “We want to help the youngest students who may be struggling in school to retain what they’ve learned,” she said. “And if they improve their skills too, that’s even better.

“For some of the kids, it’s too far to go to the library on a regular basis,” she added.

Teachers recommend the program to parents whose students may benefit from the summer tutoring. Parents who choose to register their kids pay $5 for the six-week session.

“We start the program a few weeks after school is out to give kids a break,” Baumgartner said. “It takes a commitment not only from the kids to want to participate but also for parents to get them here every week.

“We have one student back for the third year, and some back for second,” Baumgartner said.

She also recognized the dedication of the volunteers, who range from college students to retirees, who give of their time to help the young students.

The volunteers use materials borrowed materials from the school.  “We use materials that were used in the Ohio Reads program,” Baumgartner said. “There is an emphasis on reading, but we also touch on other skills including telling time and math.

“For example, students earn reward incentives throughout the summer – paid in play money – which they then use to “buy” prizes,” she said.

“We try to keep kids engaged, to incorporate the lessons in a fun way,” Baumgartner said.

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