Fair Summer Reading Camp is fun for all

This summer Fair Elementary in Louisville is having a summer reading program for students, grades kindergarten through second.

The program lasts for four weeks, ending on June 25.

Fair Elementary teacher Terri Stokes commented that the camp is a helpful way for them to continue learning, practice reading and build on skills that they learned during the recent school year.

“It is so great that the children will be able to maintain skills and start the next school year with so much new knowledge,” said Stokes. “They are able to enjoy reading and learning and are able to have fun with it.”

Each week holds something educational and fun for the students. During the week of June 1-4, the kindergarten group learned many things about animals, the first grade learned about all the aspects of a community, and the second grade learned about Egypt and the Egyptian way of life. On Friday, June 4, the classes were able to take a field trip or participate in fun and interesting events that were about their subjects. So far the program has been a great success for the children and teachers, according to Stokes.

Friday, the kindergarten class was visited by animal lover Carol Eaves of Carol’s Canines, and her assistant for the day, Vicki Tucker. Eaves brought with her a five-month old Yorkshire Terrier puppy to present to the class. She allowed students to take turns holding the puppy, and then demonstrated different ways on how to groom an animal. Some of the children asked questions about dogs and their temperaments.

“The only mean dogs are those that people make mean,” Eaves said.

After Eaves had finished, Tucker took over and gave the children a history lesson on Hawaii and showed them many beautiful pictures in a book. She also mentioned that she loved Hawaii because “there are no snakes.” The Yorkie, Gracie, would be traveling to live at her new home in Hawaii soon. The class was very attentive learning about Hawaii and enjoyed passing around the puppy.

The same day, the first grade class was able to travel to the Louisville Police Department. Officer Tonya McWhirter played the class a safety video and spoke to them about safety rules and when to call 911 for help. When Officer McWhirter asked the group questions, many children remembered the correct safety answers.

Afterwards the children met police Chief L.M. Claiborne and walked over to the new 911 center, where they learned even more from 911 coordinators Vera McCarty and Kayla Rogers. From there the children went to another building at the department and enjoyed having their fingerprints done. Officer McWhirter had Sergeant Eddie Hunt help her in fingerprinting the group. The children also received plastic police helmets and stick-on badges. To top the day off Officer McWhirter allowed each child to take turns playing with the siren in a police car.

“This was so great and exciting for the kids,” said Bridgette Sheridan, summer program director.

The second grade class was able to do fun projects in learning about Egypt. They learned the Egyptian Symbol for each letter in their name and read many books about the Egyptian lifestyle. Samples of their “hieroglyphic” work were hung in the school hallway.

On Friday the second grade gathered for a popcorn and coke party to watch the movie “The Prince of Egypt.” The children also traveled to the local library to learn even more about their subject.

Sheridan is very excited about the rest of the time for the program. She mentioned that the first grade will get to go to other parts of the community such as city hall and the post office, while the kindergarten class at some point will visit a farm.

Some of the helpers for the program are Fair Elementary teachers Nanette Coburn, Rochelle Jordan, Jan Smith, and Terri Stokes. Smith’s daughter Ginger Walker was also in town from Kentucky to help out with the children on Friday.

There are many other teachers and volunteers that have helped to make this program possible, acknowledged Sheridan.

Cutlines:

68- Carol Eaves takes her puppy around the room to show all of the kindergarten students

54-Members of the first grade and their teachers enjoy spending time with members of the police force

49-Sergeant Hunt helps the children with their fingerprints

85-Members of the second grade class and their teacher show off some of their work for the week