As May brings both Teacher Appreciation Week and Foster Care Awareness Month to the forefront, A Kid’s Place is turning its focus toward the classroom. For many children in foster care, school can be a struggle due to the trauma of past experiences and the frequent disruption of moving between homes. On average, these students can fall months behind their peers, but the team at A Kid’s Place is working to change that narrative. They are dedicated to ensuring that their students do not just catch up to their classmates, but actually excel beyond them.
This week, the organization is highlighting the dedicated educators who make this mission possible every day. Academic Supervisor Ms. Zakiya, on-site teachers Ms. Candy and Ms. Cathy, Independent Living Specialist Ms. Tamyr, and permanent tutor Ms. Lynn are being recognized for their roles as more than just teachers. These women serve as specialized mentors who provide the stability and trauma-informed care needed for children to feel safe enough to learn. By creating a calm and supportive environment, they help students realize that their past does not define their future potential.
With the final school bell scheduled to ring on May 29, the focus is already shifting to the upcoming Academic Summer Camp for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. This year, the camp will follow a high-energy Olympics theme to keep students engaged and excited about learning. Running Monday through Thursday, the program is specifically designed for children who are not attending traditional summer school. This ensures that every child on campus has a productive and fun place to spend their summer break while staying sharp for the year ahead.
Under the leadership of Ms. Zakiya, students will participate in four main “Olympic events” or rotations, which include reading, math, science and STEM, and arts and crafts. A unique part of the program is how the learning groups are formed to build a stronger sense of community. The educators are pairing students with different strengths so they can support one another. For example, a student who is a math whiz might be paired with a classmate who excels at reading. This strategy allows the children to become teachers themselves, showing them that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the team.
The primary goal of the camp is to stop what educators call the “summer slide,” which is the educational regression that often happens during the long break. By keeping their minds active, A Kid’s Place helps children become the agents of their own education while keeping the fun and love in learning. This builds the independence and confidence they need to succeed in the long term, showing them that school can be a place of joy. Additionally, the hands-on nature of the STEM and art projects is designed to open their eyes to various career paths they might want to pursue when they grow up.
To help us provide healthy snacks and the supplies needed for our rotations, please consider shopping our Amazon Wishlist. Every hygiene item, gift card and snack donation helps ensure our kids have everything they need to reach for the gold!