Students may be out of school for the summer, but many are continuing to spend their days off having fun, making friends and learning at summer day camp.
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board turned some of its classrooms into day camps this month to allow 270 students to spend three weeks of their summer vacation learning to read, write and do math. At the camps, students also have the opportunity to attend field trips to museums and public libraries and participate in other fun activities like swimming, art, dance and gymnastics. The St. Clair Catholic Summer Learning camp, now in its fifth year is committed to enhancing students’ learning and
leadership skills.
“This three week camp makes a difference in our students’ lives,” says Brenda Corchis, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for St. Clair Catholic. “We are not only supporting student learning; but we’re also supporting wellness, by connecting students and parents to a wide range of activities and community partners.”
The camps are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education so families don’t pay fees for their kids to attend. The program began in 2014 with three classrooms and 60 students at Georges P. Vanier Catholic School in Chatham. This year, there are 10 classrooms at four locations in Chatham, Blenheim, Wallaceburg and Sarnia.
Innovative initiatives like these are just one way Catholic schools continue to make learning more accessible for our students. Join us today and help us strengthen Ontario’s Catholic education system.