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CONTACT:
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Tod McKay, Vice President Communications
United Way of Treasure Valley
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115 Treasure Valley preschoolers to attend kindergarten boot camps
Boise, Idaho – While school is out and summer has started for most students in the Treasure Valley, for 115 low-income, high risk kids entering kindergarten this fall, their school experience begins this week. Those students are part of United Way’s Born Learning – Targeted Outreach Program, now in its third year, and will be participating in Kindergarten Readiness Camps taking place at five Title I elementary schools in the Treasure Valley.
These Title I schools have a high correlation of poverty and low pre-literacy rates for incoming Kindergarten students. The free camps are located in the Boise, Nampa, and Caldwell school districts. The students were recruited at Kindergarten registration for the program run by United Way of Treasure Valley in partnership with the Treasure Valley Family YMCA.
At camp, the students will become comfortable with a classroom setting, learn to write their name, identify shapes, letters and sounds, and count. This is the third year for the Kindergarten Readiness Camps, and already the program, funded 100% by private donations, is showing impressive results. Last year, 56% of the children who participated scored at or above grade level when they started Kindergarten, compared to 17% of their classmates who did not participate.
Prior to boot camp, the students and their parents attended United Way’s Family Activity Nights, where parents attended classes taught by the Learning Lab and Humphreys Diabetes Center on how to help their children prepare for kindergarten. Topics included the importance of listening and talking to their children and reading and math readiness skills, as well as the importance of good nutrition. Life’s Kitchen prepared dinner for Family Night participants.
| WHAT: |
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United Way - Kindergarten Readiness Boot Camps
Program to prepare Treasure Valley students for success in school. |
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| WHERE: |
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Boise, Nampa, and Caldwell elementary schools. |
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| WHEN: |
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June 15 – July 30, 2009
First camps begin this week in Boise & Nampa |
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| WHO: |
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115 students entering Kindergarten in Title I schools in the Treasure Valley. Program partners include The Learning Lab, YMCA, Life’s Kitchen, Humphreys Diabetes Center, Wendy’s, Paul’s Market, Treasure Valley Reading Foundation, Boise, Caldwell, and Nampa City Recreation Departments and the Caldwell, Boise and Nampa School Districts. |
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For more information about Born Learning or to see how United Way invests community donations, visit www.unitedwaytv.org
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About United Way of Treasure Valley
Since 1928, United Way of Treasure Valley has been working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. We invite everyone to be part of the change. Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. To donate, volunteer or learn more, please visit www.helpthemostpeople.com
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