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Starfish Academy
 Starfish Academy Literacy Camp is a collaborative, innovative summer literacy camp which targets first and second grade students in need of help achieving the reading and comprehension goals recommended for their grade level. Children improve their reading and comprehension skills and develop positive self-esteem in a safe supervised, interactive learning environment. The program is currently offered to children in the Mooresville Graded School System.
WHOM OUR PROGRAM SERVES
Starfish serves children, ages six and seven, who are performing below their recommended grade level on standardized reading and comprehension tests. The children are invited to participate in this program at no cost to their families. The six- week program provides each child with 100+ additional hours of focused instruction by experienced, certified teachers and works to increase parent involvement.
RESOURCES AND FUNDING
Starfish is funded by generous gifts from our members and the community at large through our Annual Community Outreach Campaign. The Mooresville Graded Schools, our collaborative partner, provides the classrooms and the use of advanced technology to enhance the program. The cost of the implementation of the program is $1200 per child.
WHAT MAKES STARFISH EXEMPLARY
Starfish exemplifies the power of strong community partnerships to make a difference in a child's life.
• The academic curriculum is led by certified teachers.
• The ratio of one teacher to eight students offers the opportunity for high impact relationships that are conducive to learning.
• Starfish incorporates a Character Development component designed to build positive self-esteem in the children we serve. Led by a Character Development Champion, this program reflects the Lowe’s YMCA’s desire to communicate and model our character traits of respect, caring, honesty, responsibility and faith.
SERVING THE WHOLE CHILD
After instruction each day, children participate in camp activities that are fun, challenging and beneficial to their emotional and physical health. Two or more afternoons per week the children are transported by bus to the Lowe's YMCA facility for swimming and other activities. This crucial camp aspect of the program allows us to focus on the needs of the whole child. The children not only learn better reading skills and comprehension, they truly experience summer camp.
THE LEGEND OF THE YMCA STARFISH
While walking along a beach, a man saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.
As he came closer, he saw thousands of starfish the tide had washed ashore Unable to return to the ocean during low tide, the starfish were dying. He observed a young man picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them back into the water.
After watching the seemingly futile effort, the observer said, “There must be thousands of starfish on this beach. It would be impossible for you to get all of them. There are simply too many. You can’t possibly save enough to make a difference.”
The young man smiled as he continued to pick up another starfish and toss it back into the ocean.
“It made a difference to that one,” he replied.
For more information contact:
Lowe’s YMCA
(704) 716-4000
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