New summer school program designed to motivate, engage students

IN THE NEWS: Free summer camp tackles equity gap; Power of Partnerships speaks to ‘whole child’

The Power of Partnerships (POP) Summer Program is a new free learning opportunity specifically designed to motivate and engage about 80 students entering grades 2–8 this fall.

Happening now in the Main Library, Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm, this exciting partnership between the library, the E-Team of Oak Park, Dominican University, and Oak Park Elementary School District 97 joins people and community resources to re-imagine learning and achievement. It is designed to support, motivate, and engage students who were struggling in their previous school year, including students with Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores up to the 25th percentile, and students who have been recommended by parents and teachers.

Each day starts at 9 am with 30 minutes of yoga and mindfulness to prepare all students for an exciting day of learning. Students then work in small (six or fewer) groups and are guided in individualized instruction by a certified teacher and a pre-service teacher candidate. These interactive opportunities emphasize proven literacy practices around reading, writing, math, technology, and inquiry/problem solving.

“We are an organization committed to learning for everyone,” said David J. Seleb, the library’s executive director. “We are also turned outward toward our community, and are intentional about the choices we make.”

“This program connects learning to inquiry, experimentation, and hands-on projects that focus on collaboration and relationship-building while supporting basic skill development in literacy and math,” said the E-Team’s Frances Kraft. “Much of the work will explore themes of social justice and empowering all voices.”

This is the second tutoring/mentorship initiative for the library with the E-Team. The first launched in the fall of 2017, a program formally titled “Triton College Activating Community Opportunities.” Learn more »

The POP summer school program runs four weeks, continuing through Friday, August 10.