BEN Summer Program At Somersfield Academy
Bermuda Education Network [BEN] has formed a “community partnership with Somersfield Academy to provide reading support to public-school children with the Summer Learning Programme.”
A spokesperson said, “The independent school has donated the space for three weeks for one-to-one reading tutoring, art enrichment, and outdoor play for 44 students at its campus in Devonshire.
“The literacy programme works to reduce the number of students struggling to learn how to read at primary level through intensive intervention that includes lessons that reinforce language concepts and one-on-one tuition with reading experts.
“The three-week programme is run by teachers from BEN’s professional learning community, including various public schools, Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation, and Somersfield Academy. Additionally, Bermuda General Agency [BGA] has donated healthy snacks and fruit for the students.”
“Somersfield Academy is happy to be contributing to the wider Bermuda community in this way,” says Kristen Scott Ndiaye, Development & Marketing Manager. “We are also benefitting from our participating Primary Division teaching staff developing their skills. This partnership has not only brought new knowledge, students, and perspective to our campus but is giving us an opportunity to uphold our vision of being an inclusive community that inspires socially conscious, independent learners. We look forward to continued discussions of partnership in the future.”
The spokesperson said, “The children who are selected for the programme are recommended by their Teachers, Principals, and Reading Specialist. The children do not have major learning disabilities but are approaching grade level and need a boost to push them over the line. Children can fall through the cracks because the expense and wait times for receiving assessments or support.
“The programme is provided completely free to parents and has been funded through grants from the Centennial Bermuda Foundation, the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropy Initiative, and Fortitude Re.
“Teachers, tutors, and interns received Professional Development training prior to the program commencing from reading specialist, Natalie Roberts. Mrs. Roberts is the Deputy Principal and reading specialist at St. George’s Prep.”
Fiona Murdoch, BEN’s Program Director said: “Our Camp Director, Kelly Rodday leads a team of twelve reading tutors and four classroom teachers – Helen Paynter, ELA teacher at Whitney Institute; Florence Brown, ELA teacher at St. George’s Prep; Natalie Roberts, the Reading Specialist at St. George’s Prep, and Ashley Phipps, ELA teacher at Somersfield Academy.”
“We are also excited to have expanded the internship opportunities and this year have five university students: Allie Calauro, Morgan Kempe, Harlee Purvey, Angelé Basden, and Charlotte Neal joining us as classroom assistants. Our goal is to ensure that BEN’s summer programme provides young students with intervention at the critical P3 stage, but also provides an opportunity for Bermuda’s future educators to work with a highly experienced team of reading teachers and gain key insights into the science of reading.”
The spokesperson said, “Students receive a report at the end of the Programme which is provided to their schools to aid in additional support over the course of the coming school year.
“For more information on the Bermuda Education Network visit www.bermudaeducationnetwork.com.”
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