Lessons from Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Help Keep Kids and Teens Engaged in Learning as Social Distancing Continues

Learning loss is a real issue every summer, but in the unprecedented era of COVID-19, many students already began the summer at an educational disadvantage. As schools closed their doors weeks ahead of time, students completed the school year at home, relying on virtual classrooms and take-home work.

The digital divide made it a lot harder for some children to complete school work, especially those from low-income and minority households, who may not have reliable internet access. In homes where parents did not have the choice of tele-work, older children may have needed to care for their younger siblings so parents could work, making it even harder to do school work under already challenging circumstances.

Now there’s concern over how to keep kids engaged in learning this summer. Research finds children typically fall behind academically each summer, losing about two months’ worth of math skills during the summer. Low-income youth lose more than two months’ worth of reading skills, while their middle-class peers make slight gains.[1] Unchecked, summer learning losses can cause disadvantaged kids to fall behind and possibly jeopardize their chances of graduating from high school.

Public schools and some afterschool programs like Boys & Girls Clubs may remain closed this summer to prevent the spread of the virus, and that means students have lost an important lifeline – a place to connect with friends and teachers, work on their social and emotional skills (which help kids achieve success in areas like academics, arts, leadership and service) and access a typical learning experience. In this segment, parents can take some valuable cues and gain advice to help their kids from a youth development expert from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

July 6 -11 has been designated as national Summer Learning Week, the perfect time to hear from Chrissy Chen, the Senior Director of Youth Development Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She’ll discuss how parents can learn some important tips to keep kids and teens learning during summer, especially due to the changes that happened during this recent school year due to COVID-19. She’ll also explain what the important tools are to make sure young people don’t experience summer learning loss while also building their social and emotional skills so they can prepare for the new school year — and life beyond the pandemic.

www.bgca.org
www.myfuture.net

Interview is courtesy: Boys & Girls Clubs of America

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Hurricanes can be extremely unpredictable, as can be the recovery from the storms. Months have passed since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, and nearly 200,000 families and businesses — 16% of the island — remain without power.

It is incumbent upon those living in areas at highest risk of being impacted by hurricanes to take storm preparations into their own hands. Taking small steps before the storm hits and knocks out your power can save a lot of headaches and heartache when it’s too late. Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters.

Some important tips include stockpiling enough emergency supplies to last you, your loved ones and your pets for at least three days. The emergency kits should include bottled water, non-perishable food, prescription drugs you are taking, emergency radio and a DIY phone charger.

Experts also advice to keep handy changes of underwear, comfortable shoes and clean wool socks.

Our guest who will be available to discuss emergency planning methods will be Mark McGinnis, an authority in forensic meteorology and an expert in weather hazard planning and weather analysis. His depth of experience in weather preparedness as it relates to increasing safety and reducing associated losses is highly relevant to both home owners as well as local businesses.

Mark will provide tips on how to best prepare yourself for the coming hurricane season and avoid the troubles that can accompany these storms.

The post Video & Podcast – DON’T LEAVE HURRICANE PREP, appeared first on Good News!.

Museum Offers Special Gift Of Intrepid for All Visitors Through Feb 15, 2013

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum today announced it will officially reopen to the public on December 21, after completing extensive repairs to its power sources damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

“We have worked non-stop to make the necessary repairs to our power generation, fire suppression and other infrastructure that makes the museum run and allow visitors to enjoy the unique historical exhibits here,” said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Museum. “The flooding we experienced during the height of Sandy was beyond anyone’s imagination. Recovering from damage that extensive, in just over a month, is a testament to the hard work of everyone here at the museum. We’re thrilled that we’re open again in time for the Winter Holiday break.”

The rise in the Hudson River due to Hurricane Sandy caused flooding and damage to Pier 86, with four to six feet of water swamping the main electrical transformers and both of Intrepid’s backup generators. Power losses caused the Space Shuttle Pavilion to deflate, and interrupted power supply to the entire museum complex, including the Intrepid, the Growler, Concorde and the Welcome Center. Additionally, three feet of water poured into the Welcome Center, destroying the ticketing counters, gift shop and mechanical rooms. The Welcome Center will remain closed while being rebuilt and temporary ticketing booths have been installed in the Museum’s plaza.

The Space Shuttle Pavilion exhibit remains closed while preparations are made to install a new structure and rebuild the exhibit interior. The shuttle is fully visible from the flight deck and the pier.

In celebration of the reopening, Intrepid is offering a Gift of Intrepid “buy one, get one free” promotion through February 15, 2013. This special ‘social media’ offer is available to those who are facebook fans of the Museum or those who follow the museum on twitter. Visitors must print and bring with them a special coupon posted on the Intrepid facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IntrepidMuseum or https://www.twitter.com/Intrepidmuseum

About the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Now home of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex also includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier ‘Intrepid’; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive collection of 27 aircraft including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world. Guests can experience areas of the ship including the Flight Deck, Hangar Deck, fo’c’sle (commonly known as the anchor chain room), new multimedia presentations and exhibit collections, interactive educational stations and a state-of-the-art public pier.

The Intrepid is proudly supported by Time Warner Cable and Coca-Cola.

The post INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM SET TO REOPEN DECEMBER 21 AFTER HURRICANE SANDY REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED appeared first on Good News!.